Percutaneously implantable catheter-port system: preliminary technical results.

The function and safety of a percutaneously implantable catheter-port system were studied in 44 patients with different diseases (32 patients with malignant disease, 11 with peripheral arterial disease, and one with recurrent asthmatic attacks). Most patients required repeated local-regional arterial infusion. Infection (two patients) and catheter-related complications (10 patients) were observed during the follow-up period (maximum length of follow-up, 542 days; mean, 177 days). Port migration or leakage did not occur. The data suggest that this new catheter-port system is safe and easy to handle.