title: [Complications of an intravenous administration system (Port-A-Cath) in children with an oncologic disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe complications of the use of an intravenous administration system (Port-A-Cath; PAC) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective record analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emma Children's Hospital, the Children Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1989 to January 1992, 66 children aged 1 to 20 years were treated via a PAC system for malignant disease. 70 PACs were implanted with a cumulative period of use of 27,981 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In one-third of the patients (36%) one or more complications arose. Most common were infection (16 times) and obstruction (8). Tip dislocation, secondarily infected haematoma, leakage, thrombosis and infiltrate occurred occasionally. Almost 50% of the complications could be treated effectively. In the other cases the PAC system had to be removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantage of a PAC for oncological patients is the improvement of the quality of life, as it provides a simple and painless access to the venous system. Complications occur regularly, however. Reduction of the number of complications should be the start of further perfection of the PAC system.
authors.affiliation: Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, Medische Faculteit, Maastricht.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van de Graaf
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Voûte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
vernacular_title: Complicaties van een intraveneus toedieningssysteem (Port-A-Cath) bij kinderen met een oncologische aandoening.