Arm placement of the Cook titanium Petite Vital-Port: results of radiologic placement in 125 patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with cancer require reliable venous access for therapy and phlebotomy. Traditionally, insertion of venous ports has been performed in the operating room. However, the interventional radiology service has recently become involved in the placement of a variety of venous access devices. This study examines the technique and complications associated with the placement of venous ports in the arm for patients with cancer.
METHODS: Cook titanium Petite Vital-Ports (Cook Canada, Stouffville, Ont.) were implanted in patients with cancer, and implantation was performed in the medical imaging vascular/interventional suite. Patients were followed prospectively by periodic chart review for a maximum of 42 months after port insertion. Minimum follow-up in patients who did not die from cancer was 6 months.
RESULTS: The authors implanted 125 Vital-Ports. The mean duration of port implantation was 265 days (range 2 to 1278 days, total catheter days 33 221). Venous thrombosis developed in 5 patients (4%, or 0.06 episodes/1000 catheter days). Four patients (3.2%, or 0.12 episodes/1000 catheter days) had suspected infection of the port or catheter, and 2 had culture-positive infection (1.6%, or 0.06 episodes/1000 catheter days). Two patients (1.6%, or 0.06 episodes/1000 catheter days) required port or catheter revision owing to mechanical difficulties.
CONCLUSION: The Cook titanium Petite Vital-Port, implanted in the arm in the medical imaging vascular/interventional suite, is relatively safe and effective. As a result, it has been widely accepted by the patients and clinicians at the hospital where this study was conducted.