INTRODUCTION: Totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) or ports are increasingly used in oncology settings to provide long-term, easy venous access. This study reports our experience and results with 1180 cases in Singapore. METHOD: Data from January 2019 to January 2022, obtained from a hospital-approved secure database application called the Research Electronic Data Capture registry, were reviewed and analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 1180 patients underwent TIVAD implantation with a 100% technical success rate. The mean age of the cohort was 61.9 years. The mean dwell duration was 342 days (standard deviation [SD] 223; range 3-1911). By 1 February 2022, 83% of patients were still using the TIVAD, 13.6 % underwent removal after completion of treatment, 2.1% were removed due to infection, 0.6% due to malfunction, 0.6% due to port extrusion and 0.1% at patient's request. The right internal jugular vein (IJV) was the most commonly accessed site (83.6%), followed by the left IJV (15.6%). The early post-procedure complications were pain (24.7%), bruising (9.2%), swelling (3.6%), bleeding (0.5%), fever (0.4%), itchiness (0.2%) and allergic dermatitis (0.1%). The delayed post-procedure complications were TIVAD site cellulitis (3.80%); discharge (1.10%); skin erosion with device extrusion (0.60%); malpositioned catheter (0.33%), which was successfully repositioned, catheter-related bloodstream infections (0.25%); migration of TIVAD leading to catheter dislodgement (0.25%); venous thrombosis (0.25%); fibrin sheath formation requiring stripping (0.10%) and TIVAD chamber inversion (0.10%). CONCLUSION TIVAD implantation via the jugular vein under radiological guidance provides a safe, reliable and convenient means of long-term venous access in oncology patients. By sharing our experience and acceptable outcomes from a large oncology cohort, we aim to increase the awareness and adoption of TIVAD usage in oncology patients, especially in Asia.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Catheterization, Central Venous/instrumentation* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects* ; Adult ; Jugular Veins/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Catheter-Related Infections/epidemiology* ; Central Venous Catheters/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVETo study the efficiency of electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor for positioning the catheter tip in the placement of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in neonates.

METHODSA total of 160 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from January 2015 to December 2017 and underwent the PICC placement via the veins of upper extremity were enrolled. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 80 neonates in each group. The neonates in the control group were given body surface measurement and postoperative X-ray localization, while those in the observation group were given body surface measurement, ECG localization, and postoperative X-ray localization. The two groups were compared in terms of general information, one-time success rate of PICC placement, and time spent on PICC placement.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the two groups in sex composition, gestational age, age in days at the time of PICC placement, disease type, and site of puncture (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly higher one-time success rate of PICC placement (95% vs 79%; P<0.05) and a significantly shorter time spent on PICC placement (P<0.05). Localization under an ECG monitor during PICC placement had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the PICC placement in neonates, the use of ECG monitor to determine the position of catheter tip can improve the one-time success rate of placement and reduce the time spent on placement.

Catheterization, Central Venous ; instrumentation ; Catheterization, Peripheral ; methods ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Electrocardiography ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Adult ; Catheter-Related Infections ; etiology ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; instrumentation ; Central Venous Catheters ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism ; etiology ; Recurrence ; Sepsis ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Catheterization, Central Venous ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Catheters, Indwelling ; adverse effects ; Central Venous Catheters ; adverse effects ; Device Removal ; Humans

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; instrumentation ; Device Removal ; Humans ; Male ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Vena Cava, Superior

Vascular catheters are associated with complications such as infection, thrombosis and stenosis. The embolization of a venous catheter fragment is a rare complication. A 39-year-old woman underwent placement of a totally implantable venous access device for chemotherapy to treat a recurrent liposarcoma of the left thigh. The "pinch-off sign" was noted on a routine chest X-ray but that was ignored. Three-months after implantation of the intravenous access device, the indwelling central catheter was fractured and embolized to the pulmonary trunk. The catheter in the pulmonary trunk was successfully removed through a percutaneous femoral vein approach using a pigtail catheter and goose neck snare.
Thigh/pathology ; Pulmonary Artery/*injuries/surgery ; Liposarcoma/drug therapy ; Humans ; Foreign-Body Migration/*complications/surgery ; Female ; *Equipment Failure ; Embolism/*etiology/surgery ; Catheters, Indwelling/*adverse effects ; Catheterization, Central Venous/*adverse effects/instrumentation ; Adult