Fifty-five patient years' experience with a totally implanted system for intravenous chemotherapy.

A subcutaneously implanted injection system represents a new method of central venous access. Seventy-eight injection capsules were implanted in 75 cancer patients undergoing intermittent chemotherapy. The actuarial median functional survival of the injection capsules was 16 months, and with a cumulative function time of 55 patient years the complication rate was only one complication every 990 days. No cases of septicemia and few cases of local infection or clotting of the system were seen. Patient activities were not restricted, and maintenance of the system between treatment courses was unnecessary. However, in 9% of the implants a tendency to erosion through the skin was observed, necessitating explantation or reimplantation. Injection capsules seem to be particularly suited for intermittent chemotherapy, including short-term infusions and blood sampling.