Port Implantation and Its Side Effects in Cancer Patients: An Oncology Center Experience

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Research Development Center, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Department of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Research Development Center, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Clinical Research Development Center, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

10.32598/jjo.20.2.6

Abstract

Objectives: Port placement is a helpful tool in cancer patients requiring long-term intravenous
therapy. However, the tool is used in a small number of patients in Iran due to various reasons,
such as no facilities and time, limited access, and poor patient cooperation. This study aims to
examine the frequency of port placement and its complications in cancer patients.
Methods: In this prospective study, the data of cancer patients who underwent port placement
and received chemotherapy were collected from October 2019 to September 2020. Then,
we reviewed and analyzed their demographic characteristics, method and frequency of port
placement, and the associated complications.
Results: Of 2634 patients who received chemotherapy, 50 underwent port placement (1.9%).
Of whom, 15 were excluded due to missing data or no access to the patients or their files. In
the remaining 35 patients, the most common method of port placement was surgical (91%),
and the most common methods of flushing and locking were using distilled water (88%) and
heparin (100%), respectively. The frequency of main complications was 20% which included
infection (11.4%) and mechanical catheter dysfunction (8.5%). Six patients (17.1%) underwent
catheter removal.
Discussion: The number of patients who underwent port placement was very low, possibly due
to the above reasons. The frequency of complications was low, but it can be further reduced by
using better materials and techniques and following port maintenance instructions.

Keywords



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