[Experience with 150 subcutaneous venous reservoirs for venous access and infusion for the treatment of adult patients with oncologic and hematologic disorders and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. / Experiencia con 150 reservorios venosos subcutáneos como acceso venoso e infusión de tratamiento en pacientes adultos oncológicos, hematológicos y afectos de síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida.

BACKGROUND: In the present study the year experience of a multidisciplinary team (oncologic, unit for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and surgery) with the use of a new method of central intravenous administration of medication such as that of subcutaneous venous reservoirs (SVR) is reviewed. METHODS: The subcutaneous injection capsules were implanted as a venous access in 150 surgical procedures in 146 patients from October 1985 to April 1991 with a total follow up of 29.190 days and a mean length of 251 days for SVR. Sixty-two percent (94 implantations) of the SVR were implanted in the out patient clinic, 20% (30 patients) were admitted for placement of the reservoir although this was only indicated in the first two years of the series, 13% (20 patients) during hospitalization for the base disease and only 4% (6 patients) were specifically admitted for surgical preparation (plasma, platelets, and others). SVR were used for chemotherapy (124 cases, 82%), repeated transfusions (6 cases, 4%) and chronic medication (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, infections) (30 patients, 20%). Forty-two percent permitted chemotherapy administration by continual transfusion on an out patient regime. RESULTS: A series of mechanical complications (3 cases, 2%), septic (9 episodes in 7 patients, 5%) and thrombotic (8 of the catheter) (5%) and 4 of the central veins (2%) were observed. In the present series the rate of infections (5%) (0.072 episodes of bacteremia per 100 days/patient) and thrombosis (3%) was very low due to a strict protocol of maintenance and control by the medical team and hospital staff. The need for radiologic control during surgery is emphasized although, as demonstrated in the present review, the technique of localization by a cath-finder (external detector) permits greater speed with the same security. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of patient satisfaction and the minimum incidence of serious complications in determined risk groups (neutropenia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) demonstrates that subcutaneous venous reservoirs (SVR) constitute an excellent method as a chronic venous access. The SVR present a lower rate of complications if compared with any historic series of external vascular catheterization.

[Deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb. A prospective study of the central venous catheter as an etiologic factor and clinical and subclinical incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism]. / Trombosis venosa profunda de la extremidad superior. Estudio prospectivo del catéter venoso central como factor etiológico y su incidencia clínica y subclínica de tromboembolismo pulmonar.

The thrombogenicity presented in different types of endovenous catheters and their anomalies are the cause of the development of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in some patients, secondary to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the upper limbs. Presentation of a study made on the incidence of PTE in patients with prior history of DVT of the upper limbs. Of the 30 cases of DVT of the upper limbs studied, 20 were directly attributed to catheters. 18 were attached to a central catheter and the other 2 one or two peripheral catheters. 0,32% of DVT of the upper limbs secondary to a central catheter was calculated. Five of the 20 DVT patients (25%) had symptomatic or sub-clinical DVT. Emphasis was placed on the importance of DVT and its intrinsically serious nature and the need for studies on this condition, since it is possible for the patient not to develop the complete symptoms of DVT at the onset, which led to death in one patient. We recommend the establishing of strict norms with regard to the indications for inserting the central catheter and the choice of the correct material, aseptic and non-traumatic insertion, radiological control (essential) of the position of the catheter and its tip, establishing of a protocol for the correct maintenance and a device for controlling thrombotic complications in upper limbs, to ensure rapid treatment and a rapid check of the possibility of DVT by pulmonary gammagraphy during the first 24-48 hours.