Complicaties van een intraveneus toedieningssysteem (Port-A-Cath) bij kinderen met een oncologische aandoening

To describe complications of the use of an intravenous administration system (Port-A-Cath; PAC) in children.

Design

Retrospective record analysis.

Setting

Emma Children's Hospital, the Children Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam.

Method

From January 1989 to January 1992, 66 children aged 1 to 20 years were treated via a PAC system for malignant disease. 70 PACs were implanted with a cumulative period of use of 27.981 days.

Results

In one-third of the patients (36) one or more complications arose. Most common were infection (16 times) and obstruction (8). Tip dislocation, secondarily infected haematoma, leakage, thrombosis and infiltrate occurred occasionally. Almost 50 of the complications could be treated effectively. In the other cases the PAC system had to be removed.

Conclusion

The advantage of a PAC for oncological patients is the improvement of the quality of life, as it provides a simple and painless access to the venous system. Complications occur regularly, however. Reduction of the number of complications should be the start of further perfection of the PAC system.