Background: The implantation of a Port-A-Cath (PAC) is a common surgical procedure usually done under guidance with techniques such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or intravenous electrocardiography. PAC implantation without guidance avoids radiation exposure and decreases time, expense, and complexity. The purpose of this study was to analyze the success rate, and operation-related and postoperative complications of PAC implantation without intraoperative guidance.
Methods: Between July 2004 and June 2007, 1,070 PACs were implanted in 1,025 patients receiving chemotherapy. All PACs were placed via the subclavian vein by percutaneous puncture. The catheter length was precalculated for each patient. Postoperative chest radiography was immediately performed to check the catheter position. All data on outcome of the implantations were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The catheter tip was correctly placed at the cavoatrial junction without complications in 1,055/1,070 (98.6%) of the implants. Surgery-related complications occurred in 15 (1.4%) implantations: 9 malposition, 3 pneumothorax, 2 hematoma, and 1 catheter kinking. Two patients underwent PAC removal due to hematoma with subsequent wound infection in one and catheter occlusion by kinking in the other. There were 86 (8.0%) postoperative complications that resulted in PAC removal: catheter occlusion in 24 (2.2%), pocket infection in 22 (2.1%), catheter rupture in 11 (1.0%), venous thrombosis in 9 (0.8%), port exposure in 9 (0.8%), catheter fracture in 6 (0.6%), infraclavicular pain in 3 (0.3%), catheter migration in 1 (0.1%), and extraportal injection in 1 (0.1%).
Conclusions: PACs can be safely and accurately placed using percutaneous puncture of the subclavian vein without intraoperative guidance.