Venous access ports: frequency and management of complications in oncology patients.
Totally implantable venous access ports have been in use now for over 20 years. They are valuable instruments for long-term intravenous treatment of patients with cancer. Apart from perioperative difficulties, the typical complications associated with venous access ports are venous thrombosis, port infection, extravasation, pinch off syndrome, dislocation, occlusion and catheter leakages. The vast majority of these complications are avoidable, or at least the complication rate can be reduced with health care personnel training and education of patients. This review will give a broad overview on the frequency and possible complications related to port devices. Furthermore, this review suggests strategies for management including proposals to avoid such complications.
Jordan
Karin
K
Department of Oncology/Haematology, University Hospital of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Karin.Jordan@medizin.uni-halle.de
Behlendorf
Timo
T
Surov
Alexey
A
Kegel
Thomas
T
Maher
Gita
G
Wolf
Hans-Heinrich
HH
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents