Subcutaneous Infusion Ports Via the Internal Jugular Vein: Single Center Experience

Objective: Our purpose is to report and review the results and early complications of subcutaneous infusion port placement by our interventional radiology department. Materials and Methods: Three-hundred twenty-five subcutaneous infusion ports were placed in 320 patients between January 2005 and May 2010. Ports were placed under both general and local anesthesia. Five patients were catheterized twice. The internal jugular veins were used for access. Both ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance were used in our interventions. Retrospectively, we evaluated the ports' duration time. Results: Our technical success rate was 100% and only five complications occurred during port placement. The common carotid arteries were punctured in three patients but bleeding stopped ten minutes following withdrawal of the needle and artery compression. An air embolism occurred in two patients and both were successfully treated with good positioning and suctioning. Early catheter removal was required in five patients. One patient had a right internal jugular vein thrombosis, three patients had catheter occlusions and two patients had catheter fractures. The mean duration of catheter usage was 354 days (range: 2 to 1,478 days). Conclusion: Image guided placement of infusion ports has a greater success rate and lower early complication rate when compared with the unguided series. The right internal jugular vein is the first choice for infusion port access.