Placement of subcutaneous chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection.

Without scientific evidence, practice has been to avoid placing chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection. Because the lymphatic system in the chest wall drains via both the internal mammary and axillary nodes, it seems that this practice might unduly restrict venous access options. Our study was designed to evaluate outcome after placement of chest wall ports ipsilateral to axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer. Twenty-eight patients were studied in this retrospective two-institution review. The incidence of lymphedema after port placement (3.6%) was no higher than that reported after axillary lymph node dissection alone.