title: Risk factors and possible mechanisms of intravenous port catheter migration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the risk factors for catheter migration and demonstrate possible mechanisms of this migration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent implantation of intravenous ports via the superior vena cava (SVC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Procedures involving catheter placement and re-intervention for catheter migration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anatomic location of the catheter tip was confirmed by plain chest X-rays (postero-anterior view). From these plain radiographs, the distance (in cm) between the carina and catheter tip and the angle (in degrees) between the locking nut and catheter were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1542 procedures related to intravenous port implantation were retrospectively reviewed but only procedures involving implantation via the SVC were included in the analysis. The study group was composed of 31 interventions because of catheter migration, while the control group consisted of 1475 implantation and re-intervention procedures except those involving catheter migrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shallow catheter-tip location (p < 0.0001) and the presence of lung cancer (p = 0.006) were risk factors for catheter migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shallow catheter-tip location and the presence of lung cancer are risk factors for catheter migration. Strategies that ensure low catheter-tip location and avoid increased thoracic pressure may be useful preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5 Fu-Shing Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C-F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: T-C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: P-J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior; D055815:Young Adult