Published online Jan 6, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i1.116
Peer-review started: September 23, 2022
First decision: November 11, 2022
Revised: November 24, 2022
Accepted: December 21, 2022
Article in press: December 21, 2022
Published online: January 6, 2023
Processing time: 103 Days and 23.2 Hours
Although the number of patients who need central venous ports for permanent vascular access is increasing, there is still no “gold standard” for the implantation technique.
To identify the implantation technique that should be favored.
Two hundred central venous port-implanted patients in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were assigned into two groups according to the access method. The first group comprised patients whose jugular veins were used, and the second group comprised patients whose subclavian veins were used. Groups were evaluated regarding age, sex, application side, primary diagnosis, active follow-up period in the hospital, chemotherapy agents administered, number of complications, and the Clavien-Dindo severity score. The distribution of the variables was tested with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The χ2 test was used to analyze the variables.
There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age, sex, side, number of chemotherapy drugs, and duration of port usage (P > 0.05). Only 2 patients in group 1 had complications, whereas in group 2 we observed 19 patients with complications (P < 0.05). No port occlusion was found in group 1, but the catheters of 4 patients were occluded in group 2. One port was infected in group 1 compared to three infected ports in group 2. Two port ruptures, two pneumothorax, one revision due to a mechanical problem, one tachyarrhythmia during implantation, and four suture line problems were also recorded in group 2 patients. We also showed that it would be sufficient to evaluate and wash ports once every 2 mo.
Our results robustly confirm that the jugular vein route is safer than the subclavian vein approach for central venous port implantation.
Core Tip: A total of 200 consecutive patients who had undergone central venous port implantation were assigned to two groups according to the access method: Jugular or subclavian veins. Our results firmly showed that the port occlusion rate was higher in the subclavian group. The jugular vein approach was also safer regarding port infections, fractures and pneumothorax risk. Contrary to the literature, our study also advocates a longer 2-mo interval for port care and washing. Our results set forth that the jugular vein route is safer than the subclavian vein for central venous port implantation.