Long-term, tunneled, noncuffed central venous catheter in cancer patients (Vygon): safety, efficacy, and complications.

Background: Totally implantable or partially cuffed central venous catheters (CVC) are commonly used in cancer patients, but they are often expensive and may produce complications. To minimize costs, we have been using a low-cost, partially tunneled, silicone elastomer catheter with no Dacron cuff or antireflux valve (Vygon) since 2001. This study is a retrospective investigation of our experience using the Vygon catheter as a long-term CVC in patients with malignancy.