J-tipped guidewire as a target for puncture of the subclavian artery in the placement of a reservoir port and catheter system.

The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility of using a J-tipped guidewire as a target for puncture of the subclavian artery in the placement of a reservoir port and catheter system (RPCS). Twenty-five patients with various hepatic malignancies underwent percutaneous implantation of an RPCS through the left subclavian artery for regional chemotherapy. To successfully puncture the left subclavian artery, a J-tipped guidewire was used as a target with fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success and complication rates, and numbers of puncture failures, were retrospectively analyzed. Implantation of the RPCS was successful in all patients. Eight (32%) patients had minor complications and no patient had major complications. The number of puncture failures per patient was 0 to 1 (mean=0.32). The J-tipped guidewire is a safe and appropriate target for puncture of the subclavian artery in the placement of an RPCS.