Double-lumen central venous port catheters: simultaneous application for chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition in cancer patients.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical benefit of low-profile double-lumen port catheters in patients receiving simultaneous chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition (PN). Potential advantages, complications, and the durations of simultaneous and single use of the catheter were assessed.

METHODS: At a university teaching hospital, 10 patients received a double-lumen port catheter (5 men, 5 women; mean age 61.5 ± 12 years). All port implantations were performed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance in the radiologic interventional suite. Procedure-related immediate, early, and late complications were recorded until removal of the device, patient's death, or completion of follow-up period. Application times and durations for chemotherapy or PN were determined.

RESULTS: No immediate complications were observed. First use of the port system for chemotherapy was within 12 days (± 25 days, range 0-84 days) and within 17 hours (± 22 hours, range 0-72 hours) for PN on average. During the application of PN, no delay or interruption of chemotherapy was observed. The port catheter was used for the simultaneous application of chemotherapy and PN for a total of 1,216 hours. One port catheter was removed after 30 days due to suspected port infection.

CONCLUSION: Central venous double-lumen port systems as a therapeutic option in patients requiring chemotherapy and PN can increase safety during those simultaneous applications, while offering improved patient comfort.