It appears to be safe to start chemotherapy on the day of implantation through subcutaneous venous port catheters in inpatient setting.

GOALS

It is generally recommended to wait for at least 24 h before starting chemotherapy after implanting venous port catheters (VPC). Our aim was to evaluate whether it is safe to start chemotherapy on the day of implantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred eighty patients who had to be given chemotherapy on the day of VPC implantation at our institution from June 2005 to April 2007 were included.

MAIN RESULTS

Of patients, 122 were male (67.8%) and median age was 55 years. Majority (133, 72.8%) had colon and gastric adenocancer. Median time to chemotherapy onset from VPC implantation was 102 min (minimum-maximum, 12-402). One hundred sixty-four (91.1%) received prolonged chemotherapy infusions beyond 48 h. No life-threatening acute complications like pneumothorax and hemothorax developed. In one patient extravasation (empty saline extravasation secondary to wrong insertion of the needle), in 17 (9.4%) pain, and in 41 (22.8%) minor bleeding as echymosis were seen. Thrombosis developed in 11 (6.1%). Reasons for VPC removal were thrombosis (2), sepsis (2), cellulitis (1), skin dehiscence (1), and patient will (1).

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy administration immediately after VPC implantation appears safe without increased acute and chronic complications in inpatient setting.