Ultrasonography and fluoroscopy-guided insertion of chest ports.

Aims: To evaluate the results of ultrasonography and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous placement of internal jugular vein catheters and subcutaneous chest port system in patients with carcinoma.

Methods: The data of 1418 patients in whom the devices were implanted from 2003 to 2007 in interventional radiology unit were evaluated prospectively.

Results: The median age was 45 years (range 23-70), 658 were women and 760 were men. Technical success in implanting the devices was 100%. No instances of major complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, catheter tip malposition, air embolism were seen. The overall complication rate was 5%. Overall follow-up of patients was 699 074 catheter days with the mean function time of 493 (range 130-1215) days.

Conclusions: With the benefit of ultrasonography and fluoroscopy guidance, chest port systems can be implanted by interventional radiologists without major insertion complications and with a higher success rate than those reported in surgical placements.