Benefits, complications, and care of implantable infusion devices in 31 children with cancer.

This retrospective study of 31 pediatric oncology patients with subcutaneously implanted infusion devices details the required care and demonstrates the benefits and complications of the system. The Port-a-cath device was used in 29 patients; one had an Infuse-a-port, and two had Mediports. Ages of the patients ranged from 5 months to 16 years. The average time of catheter function was more than 163 +/- 149 days and the total experience was 5,208 patient catheter days. In all, five catheters were removed, one for suspected and one for proven infection, two with extravasations, and one patient had spontaneous extrusion and thrombosis. These totally implanted devices allowed safe administration of blood products, antibiotics, short-term hyperalimentation, and sclerosing chemotherapeutic agents to pediatric oncology patients with previously compromised venous access.