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. 515 devices were observed in patients under treatment and 561 in patients who went to the outpatient clinic only for flushing.

Results: Late complications observed in patients under treatment were: 3 pocket infections (0.09/1000 days of port observation), 1 cutaneous infection (0.03/1000 days of port observation), 8 occlusions (0.24/1000 days of port observation) and 12 others. In patients using the device only for flushing we observed 4 cases of device related bacteremia (0.04/1000 days of port observation), 1 pocket infection (0.01/1000 days of port observation), 1 cutaneous infection (0.01/1000 days of port observation), 3 occlusions (0.03/1000 days of port observation) and 7 other complications.

Conclusions: The low incidence of complications suggests that TIAP is safe and reliable for long term intermittent venous access. Our results support the use of TIAP in the oncology patients.