ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The risk of infection associated with subcutaneous port (SQP) placement in patients with neutropenia remains unclear. We reviewed the rate of early infectious complications (<30â¯days) following SQP placement in pediatric oncology patients with or without neutropenia [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <500/mm3]. METHODS: Baseline characteristics and infectious complications were compared between groups using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 614 SQP were placed in 542 patients. Compared to nonneutropenic patients, those with neutropenia were more likely to have leukemia (nâ¯=â¯74, 94% vs nâ¯=â¯268, 50%), preoperative fever (nâ¯=â¯17, 22% vs nâ¯=â¯25, 5%), recent documented infection (nâ¯=â¯15, 19% vs nâ¯=â¯47, 9%), and were younger (81 vs 109â¯months) (p values <0.01). After adjusting for fever and underlying-disease, there was a nonsignificant association between neutropenia and early postoperative infection (OR 2.42, 95% CI 0.82-7.18, pâ¯=â¯0.11). Only preoperative fever was a predictor of infection (OR 6.09, 95% CI 2.08-17.81, pâ¯=â¯0.001). CONCLUSION: SQP placement appears safe in most neutropenic patients. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.