Safety and Effectiveness of Fibrin Sheath Stripping of Pediatric Chest Ports

Abstract

Purpose: To report the safety and effectiveness of fibrin sheath stripping of pediatric chest ports.

Materials and methods: Fibrin sheath stripping procedures for pediatric chest ports between 2018 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The treatment indication was the inability to aspirate blood from the port. The technical success, adverse events, days of primary and secondary service intervals, fluoroscopy time, and fluoroscopy dose were recorded.

Results: Fibrin sheath stripping procedures were performed in 15 patients for a total of 18 procedures. All patients treated with fibrin sheath stripping had failed fibrinolytic treatment and a preprocedural fluoroscopy examination suggestive of fibrin sheath before attempting stripping. All fibrin sheath stripping procedures were technically successful. The median and mean total days of primary service interval from the date of port placement to the date of suspected fibrin sheath were 666 and 617 days, respectively. The median and mean total number of days of secondary service interval were 385 and 561 days, respectively. The mean fluoroscopy time was 16.9 minutes. The mean fluoroscopy air kerma was 29.8 mGy. No adverse events were observed.

Conclusions: Fibrin sheath stripping is a safe and effective minimally invasive option to maintain the function of pediatric chest ports.