The use of the Port-A-Cath in children with haemophilia--a review.
Port-A-Caths have been used increasingly in children with severe haemophilia. In non-inhibitor patients where Port-a-Caths were used to facilitate long-term prophylaxis, the infection rate is rather low and ranges in the various studies from 0 to 29%, with a median follow-up time of about 27 months. Patients that received the Port-A-Cath for the induction of immune tolerance (inhibitor patients) have a high infection rate of 50% to 83%. Although this percentage is high, good venous access is extremely important, especially in this group. The number of both inhibitor and non-inhibitor patients in the studies are very small, and a prospective survey is important to obtain more adequate data.
Van Den Berg
H M
HM
Van Creveld Clinic, National Haemophilia Center, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands. h.m.vandeberg@digd.azu.nl
Fischer
K
K
Roosendaal
G
G
Mauser-Bunschoten
E P
EP
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation*
D005169:Factor VIII