title: Guidewire assisted cephalic vein cutdown for insertion of totally implantable access ports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Totally implantable access ports (TIAP) placed by the cephalic vein cutdown technique have high failure rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a guidewire assisted technique of the cephalic vein cutdown for TIAP placement that can be easily introduced catheter when difficulties in insertion of the catheter. The key point of the presented technique is the use of J guidewire to go beyond the stenosis and advancement of catheter through the guidewire into the superior vena cava.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used this technique for introducing the catheter in six patients without failure or complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented technique is easy and simple. It can be used where there are difficulties in insertion of the catheter by cephalic vein cutdown method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Nei Hu, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D016748:Venous Cutdown
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents