[Totally implantable central venous systems in neoplastic patients]

Long-term chemotherapeutic drugs administration in cancer patients requires the use of special devices such as TIS (Totally Implantable Systems) for central venous access without complications such as thrombosis and sepsis. From January 91 to January 95, 42 TIS were implanted in the same number of oncology patients at the Institute of Surgical Pathology of the University of Chieti. The catheters were inserted by surgical incannulation of the cephalic vein in 36 cases, of the external jugular vein in 5 cases and of the internal jugular vein in 1 case. Four complications occurred consisting of 3 cases of haematoma, which were resolved by wound revision and 1 case of port dislocation treated by repositioning without removing the system. It is concluded that TIS are currently the best technological solution in long-term central venous catheterization because of the very low rate of complications and the easier nursing management and significant improvement in the quality of life for these patients.