A cost-effective peripheral venous port system placed at the bedside.
High costs and a paucity of available operating time have led us to seek alternatives to operatively placed vascular access systems. This prospective study is the initial report of a peripheral port system (P.A.S. PORT System, Pharmacia Deltec, Inc.) placed at the bedside. Seventy-nine patients (52 male, 27 female), ages 3-92 years, had ports implanted by surgical residents with attending supervision. Sixty-eight (86%) received the P.A.S. PORT for long-term antibiotics, antifungal, or antiviral therapy; four (5%) for TPN infusion; three (4%) for blood products; two (3%) for chemotherapy; and two (3%) for iv narcotics. Ports were placed in 10 (13%) HIV(+) patients, three (4%) who were fully anticoagulated, and one who was a hemophiliac with a platelet count of zero. Eight patients (10%) developed superficial phlebitis, all of which resolved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents within 48 hr without port removal. Seven patients (9%) had their port removed due to infection. The average hospital charge to place the P.A.S. PORT System was $1488.00 vs $2811.00 for a tunneled external chest catheter and $3729.00 for the placement of a chest port. Bedside insertion of vascular access devices can be safely performed with acceptable infection rates allowing more efficient use of hospital operating rooms and with substantial cost savings.
Finney
R
R
Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa 33606.
Albrink
M H
MH
Hart
M B
MB
Rosemurgy
A S
AS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents