Implanted Ports: Skin Erosion

Reduction of erosion risk in adult patients with implanted venous access ports

One of the most common venous access devices used in patients with cancer is the implanted venous access port. Although incidences of infection and thrombosis are the most commonly reported complications, erosion rates of venous access ports are estimated at almost 1%. This article describes how evidence-based interdisciplinary interventions decreased port erosions for a regional health center from 3.2% to less than 1%.

Manejo do cateter venoso central totalmente implantado em pacientes oncológicos: revisão integrative

O cateter totalmente implantado é amplamente utilizado durante o tratamento de pacientes com câncer e é capaz de minimizar complicações decorrentes da terapia intravenosa periférica. Assim, buscou-se identificar os cuidados de enfermagem relacionados ao manuseio de cateter totalmente implantado nesses pacientes. Para tanto, realizou-se revisão integrativa da literatura que resultou na análise de 15 artigos. O conhecimento produzido está direcionado para o tempo de permanência do cateter, complicações inerentes ao uso, manuseio do dispositivo, percepção do paciente em relação ao cateter e informações ao paciente. Além de demonstrar a complexidade da assistência de enfermagem no manuseio desses dispositivos, os achados podem auxiliar, igualmente, os profissionais que não atuam em oncologia, na aplicação de conhecimentos na prática clínica.

Skin erosion over totally implanted vascular access devices in children

Erosion of the skin over a totally implanted vascular access device (TIVAD) is a rare event that may lead to life-threatening sequelae. From 1994 to 2007, we reviewed the medical records and central line database of 960 central line insertions for the complication of skin erosion over the TIVAD. Outcome measures included age, gender, and nutritional status, number of days until complication, insertion site, and attending surgeon. A total of 540 of the 960 central lines were TIVAD. Skin erosion occurred in 9 patients for an incidence of 1.67%. Average age at insertion was 51 months (range 25-116.5 months). The average catheter duration use in days was 335 with a range of 39-1575 days. Malnutrition defined as BMI <5% or a decrease in BMI percentiles occurred in 2 and 4 patients, respectively, and contributed to the thinning of the subcutaneous fat. Skin erosion over TIVAD is a rare complication. Most cases can be prevented by inserting the device in a subfacial location in the very young child or in the child with expected weight loss. Furthermore, the device should be placed at a fair distance from the skin incision to prevent early skin erosion through the wound.