An Implantable Venous Access System for Cancer Patients

Sustained venous access is assuming increasing importance in clinical medical practice for the infusion of antibiotics, cytotoxic drugs, blood products and parenteral nutrition. The limitation of peripheral venous access in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy can be a major problem. Many antineoplastic drugs are vesicant and may cause skin ulcers when they are extravasated into the tissue. Recent technological advances in development of non-thrombogenic silastic catheters have facilitated in-dwelling catheters to be implanted for long periods. Port-A-Cath (R) is a totally implantable vascular access system which allows for blood to be sampled and also infusion of drugs and blood products. Between March 1985 to Oct 1987, 20 Port-a-Cath (R) implanted on 19 patients (14 males and 5 females). Criteria were drawn up to select these patients for this vascular access system. The quality of life was significantly improved for these patients who receive long term chemotherapy or blood products through this device. There were 6 episodes of transitory occlusion of catheter and 1 episode of infection. Continuous infusion of drugs given through this device does not produce chemical phlebitis. It has also facilitated new methods of delivering cytotoxic drugs and analgesia