Normal saline versus heparin solution to lock totally implanted venous access devices: Results from a multicenter randomized trial.

Purpose: Our aim was to determine the non-inferiority of normal saline flushing compared to heparin flushing in maintaining the patency of totally implanted venous access devices (TIVADs).

Method: Four hundred and thirty patients were recruited from 14 Italian centres. Patients were randomized to heparin group or to normal saline group.

The late complications of totally implantable central venous access ports: the results from an Italian multicenter prospective observation study.

Purpose: The principal aim of this study is to analyze the incidence of late complications in oncologic patients with totally implanted central venous access ports.

Methods: A prospective multicenter observational study was conducted in 26 Italian oncologic outpatient clinics. 1076 cancer patients with Totally Implanted Central Venous Access Ports (TIAP) were observed.