title: Experience with the Portacath.
abstract: Fifty Portacaths have been inserted in patients undergoing prolonged outpatient chemotherapy, most for haematological disease. Twenty-one are still working at a median duration of 12 months (range 1-27) and a further 15 were functioning normally at the time of the patients death (median survival 6 months). Four functioning Portacaths have been removed, three suspected of causing septicaemia and one believed erroneously to have occluded. Ten have ceased to function and nine of these have been removed. The causes of these failures are nearly all avoidable and are discussed in detail; many occurred early in our experience. With careful attention to detail and with management by trained and interested staff, the Portacath is a safe and reliable device for intermittent vascular access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, U.K.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Scarffe
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003596:Cytosine