Clinical Course of Lung Cancer Patients with Subcutaneously Implanted Central Venous Access Device Ports from the Time of Receiving Chemotherapy to the Endpoint of Cancer

Background: As the prognosis of lung cancer (LC) patients improves, subcutaneously implanted central venous access device ports (CV-ports) have frequently been used for continuing chemotherapy (CC) or palliative care (PC). In this study, we examined the clinical course of LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports from the time of receiving chemotherapy to the endpoint of cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and treatment history of LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports between June 2008 and November 2013 using clinical records and a pharmacy database. Results: Of the 132 LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports, 79 (59.8%) had CV-ports for CC (the CC group) and 53 (40.2%) had CV-ports for PC (the PC group). After CV-port implantation, LC patients in the CC group received a median of two regimens with a median of 6 cycles. The median survival time of patients in the CC and PC groups was 457 and 44 days, respectively. In the CC group, the median survival time of small cell and non-small cell LC patients was 342 (95% confidence interval, 235 - 627) and 563 (95% confidence interval, 368 - 728) days, respectively. Nine patients (6.8%) had their CV-ports removed due to complications. Forty (30.3%) of the 132 enrolled patients were referred for at-home PC. The at-home death rate observed among these 40 patients was 30.0% (N = 12). Conclusion: CV-ports may contribute to seamless oncological care.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor metastasis at the site of a totally implantable venous access port insertion:A rare case report

BACKGROUND The totally implantable venous access port(TIVAP)is an important device in patients for injecting blood products,parenteral nutrition or antineoplastic chemotherapy.Metastatic spread at the site of the insertion of a TIVAP is extremely rare.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of 33-year-old male with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)who underwent radical tumor resection after neoadjuvant imatinib therapy.However,a solitary GIST metastasis at the site of a TIVAP insertion developed during adjuvant imatinib treatment.Mutational analysis showed secondary mutation in KIT exon 13(V564 A),which is resistant to imatinib treatment.To our knowledge,this is the first case report of a patient with advanced GIST developing GIST metastasis at the site of a TIVAP insertion.CONCLUSION This case highlights that when a patient with advanced,high metastatic GIST requires TIVAP insertion,we should realize that there is a risk of developing tumor metastasis at the site of a TIVAP insertion.

Impact of central venous port implantation method and access choice on outcomes

BACKGROUND Although the number of patients who need central venous ports for permanent vascular access is increasing,there is still no“gold standard”for the implantation technique.AIM To identify the implantation technique that should be favored.METHODS Two hundred central venous port-implanted patients in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively evaluated.Patients were assigned into two groups according to the access method.The first group comprised patients whose jugular veins were used,and the second group comprised patients whose subclavian veins were used.Groups were evaluated regarding age,sex,application side,primary diagnosis,active follow-up period in the hospital,chemotherapy agents administered,number of complications,and the Clavien-Dindo severity score.The distribution of the variables was tested with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the Mann-Whitney U test.Theχ^(2) test was used to analyze the variables.RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age,sex,side,number of chemotherapy drugs,and duration of port usage(P>0.05).Only 2 patients in group 1 had complications,whereas in group 2 we observed 19 patients with complications(P<0.05).No port occlusion was found in group 1,but the catheters of 4 patients were occluded in group 2.One port was infected in group 1 compared to three infected ports in group 2.Two port ruptures,two pneumothorax,one revision due to a mechanical problem,one tachyarrhythmia during implantation,and four suture line problems were also recorded in group 2 patients.We also showed that it would be sufficient to evaluate and wash ports once every 2 mo.CONCLUSION Our results robustly confirm that the jugular vein route is safer than the subclavian vein approach for central venous port implantation.

Accidental venous port placement via the persistent left superior vena cava:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Breast cancer poses a great threat to females worldwide.There are various therapies available to cure this common disease,such as surgery,chemotherapy,radiotherapy,and immunotherapy.Implantable venous access ports(IVAP,referred to as PORT)have been widely used for breast cancer chemotherapy.Venous malformations are possible conditions encountered during PORT implantation.Persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC)is a common superior vena cava malformation.Most patients have normal right superior vena cava without affecting hemodynamics,so patients often have no obvious symptoms.CASE SUMMARY We incidentally found that two patients had PLSVC while a PORT was implanted via the internal jugular vein.Due to chemotherapy for breast cancer,PORT was successfully implanted under the guidance of ultrasound into these 2 patients.Positive chest X-ray examination after the operation showed that the catheter ran beside the left mediastinum and the end was located in the seventh thoracic vertebra.The patients had no catheter-related complications and successfully completed the course of chemotherapy.Ultrasonography found that the ratio of PORT outer diameter to PLSVC inner diameter was less than 0.45,which was in line with the recommendations of relevant literature and operating guidelines.The purpose of this article is to introduce two rare cases and review the relevant literature.CONCLUSION Correct assessment of PLSVC status and ultrasound-guided PORT placement generally does not affect breast cancer patients chemotherapy.

Basilic vein variation encountered during surgery for arm vein port:A case report

BACKGROUND Venous variations are uncommon and usually hard to identify,and basilic vein variation is particularly rare.Basilic vein variation usually presents without any clinical symptoms and is often regarded as a benign alteration.This case was a patient with congenital basilic vein variation encountered during surgery for an infusion port.CASE SUMMARY We documented and analyzed an uncommon anatomical variation in the basilic vein encountered during arm port insertion.This peculiarity has hitherto remained undescribed in the literature.We offer remedial strategies for addressing this anomaly in the future and precautionary measures to circumvent its occurrence.We conducted a comprehensive review of analogous cases in the literature,offering pertinent therapeutic recommendations and solutions,with the aim of enhancing the efficacy and safety of future arm port implantations.CONCLUSION Venous variation is rare and requires detailed intraoperative and postoperative examination to ensure accuracy,so as not to affect subsequent treatment.