ABSTRACT
Background and Aim of work: vascular access in children receiving chemotherapy often poses an important problem. The irritating drugs used destroy peripheral veins, leading to a progressive decrease of available surface vessels. This can delay or prevent the administration of a planned therapy. Several methods of venous access have been developed, from arteriovenous fistula to indwelling right atrial silicon rubber catheters. Totally implanted devices, consisting of a subcutaneous inaction port attached to a silicon catheter, have been tried for those children. We are reporting here our early experience to assess the efficiency of this device
Patients and Method: between February 2001 and February 2004, 28 devices were placed in 28 patients with solid neoplasm or hematologic malignancy. All the catheters were inserted by cut down of the subclavian veins. The age of the patients ranged from 6 months 12 years old. Follow up period ranged from 4 to 20 months
Results: we did not have any early complication of insertion. System obstruction was the most frequent late complication. The mean life of the implanted system was 288 days
Conclusion: totally implanted devices roved safe 6 efficient venous access. Implantation should be performed by experienced surgeon. Obstruction is the most common complication 6 nay be prevented by adequate information and training of the users