Ces radiol. 2012, 66(2):148-152

Radiological implantation of power-injectable central venous port systems - first experienceOriginal article

Jan Hájek^1,3, Vendelín Chovanec^1,2, Antonín Krajina^1,2, Ondřej Renc², Jan Raupach², Ladislav Slováček⁴, Ilona Merglová¹, Petra Hanousková¹, Martin Pilař¹, Silvie Kašová¹, Jana Lerchová¹

¹ Radiodiagnostické oddělení, Pardubická krajská nemocnice a.s., Pardubice

² Radiologická klinika LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové

³ Fakulta zdravotnických studií, Univerzita Pardubice, Pardubice

⁴ Klinika onkologie a radioterapie LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové

Aim: A new type of portcatheter allows high pressure aplication of contrast agent. We report prospective evaluation of central venous power portcatheters including their clinical benefit.
Material and method. We have implated 326 portcatheters during 7 months period (from March to September 2011). This group included 54 patients with power portcatheters (33 women and 21 men with mean age 52.6 years). Procedures were performed in local anesthesia under sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance.

Results: Primary technical success was 100% with none procedural complication. Portcatheter had to be removed in 3 patients (5.6%) due to port system infection in two patients and central vein thrombosis in one. One patient died and 5 patients were lost from follow-up. Mean follow-up was 138 days (range 30-212 days). During follow-up, 18 contrast enhaced CT scans were performed in 17 patients (34.7%). Power portcatheter was used in 9 patients for 9 CT scans (52.9%, respectively 50%) and peripheral vein in 8 patients for 9 contrast CT scans (47.1%, respectively 50%). During contrast CT examination, none complication related to the implanted device occurred.

Conclusion: The procedure of power portcatheter implantation is the same as for conventional portcatheters. High pressure contrast media injection through the device was feasibile and without complication. Radiological staff education and awareness seems to be important for more frequent power portcatheter utilization for contrast enhaced CT examination.

Keywords: venous access, port, power portcatheter, procedural complication, late complication

Accepted: May 1, 2012; Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation