Implantable venous ports in pediatric oncology: experience of single institution in Russia

To review our experience with implantable venous port-systems (IVPs) in pediatric cancer patients.From 2010 to 2015 we were monitoring the treatment of 163 children (aged 3 months to 17 years) with oncologic diseases. These patients underwent venous port implantations.During insertion of 163 IVPs the following complications and technical difficulties were present: unintended puncture of the common carotid artery (CCA) during the puncture of the internal jugular vein (IJV) - 7 cases (4.3%); retrograde positioning of the distal end of the guidewire in the IJV - 17 cases (14.4%); placement of the distal end of the guidewire into the punctured subclavian vein (SV) - 12 cases (7.6%); difficulties driving the guidewire into the IJV after successful puncture - 15 cases (9.3%). The use of 163 IVPs was complicated by the following: venous port contamination - 4 cases (2.5%); occlusion of the IVPs by a clot - 8 cases (5%); withdrawal of the Huber needle bevel from the port chamber - 22 cases (13.6%); subcutaneous fat layer thinning above the port chamber - 3 cases (1.7%).There are many complications, but they can be reduced by proper choice of materials and methodology.