title: Infectious port complications are more frequent in younger patients with hematologic malignancies than in solid tumor patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed longevity and complications of totally implantable venous access devices in oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  197 patients received a total of 201 port devices via the subclavian vein for delivery of chemotherapy between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006. We reviewed the patient charts for port-related complications and risk factors until July 31, 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47,781 catheter days were analyzed (median, 175 days; range, 1-831). Forty-six different complications occurred (0.96 complications/1,000 catheter days). The only risk factor significantly associated with a higher complication rate was younger age. Older patients had a lower risk for developing complications with a risk reduction of 2.4% for each year. There were no differences regarding underlying tumor, gender, access side, method of placement (subclavian/cephalic vein) or implanting team (thoracic versus visceral surgery). A trend was seen for shorter port longevity in hematologic patients compared to oncologic patients (p = 0.059). The former developed significantly more port-associated infections than solid tumor patients [11/53 cases (21%) versus 2/148 cases (1.4%); p < 0.0001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Port-associated infections were mostly observed in younger patients with hematologic neoplasms. Prospective trials should be performed to evaluate the benefit of a prophylactic antimicrobial lock in these selected patients.
authors: Department of Oncology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. panagiotis.samaras@usz.ch
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Samaras
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Dold
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Braun
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kestenholz
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Breitenstein
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Imhof
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Renner
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Stenner-Liewen
authors: Bernhard C
authors: BC
authors: Pestalozzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents