ABSTRACT
Objective:To determine the effect of prolonging the interval of flushing on ports′ function and catheter related complications for cancer patients after completing chemotherapy.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in 190 patients who undergoing ports-maintenance in outpatient clinical, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, after they finished the chemotherapy from April 2017 to February 2018. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into 4-week group, 8-week group and 12-week group after completing chemotherapy, then returned to the hospital to maintain the port every 4 weeks, every 8 weeks and every 12 weeks, respectively. Then evaluated the function and complications of catheter among different groups.Results:After completion of chemotherapy, the rate of catheters′ patency of tumor patients in 12-week group was 98.5% (66/67), while that in 4-week group was 98.1% (53/54) and in 8-week group was 98.6% (68/69), there was no statistically significant difference on catheters′ patency among different groups ( χ 2=0.48, P>0.05). The rate of catheters′ asymptomatic thrombosis in 12-week group was 18.9% (10/53), which was not significantly different from that of 4-week group 27.0% (10/37) and 8-week group 14.0% (7/50) ( χ 2=2.33, P>0.05). Conclusions:Tumor patients maintaining port every 12 weeks after completion of chemotherapy can ensure the safety of patients using the port. It is favorable for application and promotion of port in cancer patients.