Factors on Patency Periods of Subcutaneous Central Venous Port: Long-Term Results of 1,408 Patients

Background: Studies have reported factors affecting the efficacy of subcutaneous venous chest port catheters placed into jugular or subclavian veins using a radiological technique. There is ongoing debate for this efficacy in these series. Objectives: To examine factors on patency times, including complications of subcutaneous venous chest port insertions, using ultrasonography guidance in 1,408 patients over a long-term follow-up. Patients and Methods: Between April 2009 and March 2014, subcutaneous venous chest ports were placed in 1,408 patients, 574 women and 834 men (mean age, 55.4 ± 12.1 years). Factors affecting the port patency were examined. Age, gender, access, malignancy site, and coagulation parameters were variables. A multivariable Cox regression test was used. Additionally, the successes were compared by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Fifty-seven patients underwent port removal because of complications. Complication due to catheter patency time, as number of specific complication per 100 catheter days divided by total patency days shown in parenthesis. Ports were explanted in 29 patients because of thrombosis (0.0054), in nine patients because of infection (0.0017), in eight patients because of catheter malposition (0.0015), in five patients because of bleeding (0.0009), in five patients because of skin necrosis with infection (0.0009) and one patient because of a port reservoir flip-over (0.0002), of a total of 57 patients (0.0107). The patency was similar in the two central veins (P = 0.230). No factor was significant except for the malignancy site (P = 0.002). The malignancy site and gender were significant factors for thrombosis. Port removal was significantly higher in extremities involving two regions and in female patients. Conclusions: Patency was not different between two venous access groups. The malignancy site was the only significant factor for success.