Interval between port catheter flushing can be extended to four months.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about proper interval periods between the flushings of totally implantable access ports after completion of chemotherapy. Manufacturer guidelines recommend flushing catheters every 4 weeks.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined whether flushing less than every 4 weeks conferred any benefit.

RESULTS

349 totally implanted access ports were divided into four groups based on the different durations of the intervals between flushings. Sixteen (4.6%) complications were observed in the study population.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that extending the flushing interval to up to 4 months remains medically safe and drastically reduces the costs.