Radiologic placement of implantable chest ports in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the technical success and complications associated with radiologic placement of implantable chest ports in children for long-term central venous access.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 1, 1996 and January 11, 2000, 29 chest ports were placed in 28 children (15 girls, 13 boys; age range, 2-17 years; mean, 11.7 years). The patient's right internal jugular vein was used for access in 93% (27/29) of the procedures, and a collateral neck vein was used as a conduit to recanalize the central veins in two procedures because of bilateral jugular and subclavian vein occlusion. All procedures were performed in interventional radiology suites. Both real-time sonography and fluoroscopy were used to guide venipuncture and port insertion. Follow-up data were obtained through the clinical examination and electronic review of charts.

RESULTS

Technical success was 100%. Fourteen percent of the catheters were removed prematurely, including one catheter removed 17 days after placement because the patient's blood cultures were positive for Candida albicans. No patients experienced hematoma, symptomatic air embolism, symptomatic central venous thrombosis, catheter malposition, or pneumothorax. The median number of days for catheter use by patients was 280 days (total, 9043 days; range, 17-869 days). The rate of confirmed catheter-related infection was 14% or 0.04 per 100 venous access days. One catheter occluded after 132 days.

CONCLUSION

In pediatric patients, radiologists can insert implantable chest ports using real-time sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance with high rates of technical success and low rates of complication.