Burney I A, Khurshaidi N, Akbar M T, Bhatti F N, Siddiqui T, Sophie Z.
Complications of in-dwelling venous access devices: a single institution experience.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;51(12):434-7.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the complications of venous access devices (VADs) in cancer patients. SETTING: Retrospective study in a tertiary referral center with specialist hematology and oncology services. SUBJECTS: First one hundred consecutive patients who were implanted a VAD. All patients had an underlying cancer and the devices were inserted by the same surgeon. The duration of use of VADs and causes of their premature removal were noted. RESULTS: One hundred VADs (55 port-a-caths and 45 Hickman`s lines) were inserted in a total of 89 patients over a 7.5 year period. Majority of patients had acute myeloid leukemia (22) gastrointestinal malignancies (20) breast cancer (19) and genito-urinary cancers (15). The mean duration of use was 110 days; 157 days for the port-a-cath and 53 days for the Hickman`s line. Nineteen devices (10 port-a-caths and 9 Hickman`s lines) had to be removed prematurely. Two Hickman`s lines got removed accidentally. The causes of premature removal included device failure (9), exist site infection (4), luminal infection (3) and tunnel infection (3). CONCLUSION: The mean duration of use and the complication rates are comparable with studies reported in the literature.

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