Long-term venous access service based in the barium room.

Abstract

27 totally implantable venous access devices (ports), 12 long term dual-lumen venous access catheters and one tunnelled long line were placed over 13 months in a standard district general hospital (DGH) screening room. No significant early complications occurred. Two patients referred from outside hospitals were lost to follow-up. Of the 38 lines with comprehensive follow-up, three required removal because of suspected infection and one because of thrombosis giving a major complication rate of 4 per 6800 access days, i.e. 0.59 per 1000 access days. The minor complications comprised five treatable infections and one resolving subclavian thrombosis in 6800 access days. These rates compare favourably with previous radiological series in which procedures were performed in "clean" vascular suites, and with previous surgical series. Radiological insertion of these devices with rapid scheduling and local anaesthesia methods is feasible in a DGH without the use of a specialized vascular suite.