Complications after implantation of subcutaneous central venous port

We retrospectively reviewed 500 cases who were implanted with subcutaneous central venous port (CV port) in our institution from Jan. 2007 to Nov. 2011, to investigate the complications arising after CV port implantation. The purpose of CV port implantation was chemotherapy access in 279 cases and home parenteral nutrition in 221 cases. The primary diseases were malignancy in 441 cases (colorectal cancer 252 cases, gastric cancer 54 cases, etc.) and benign diseases in 59 cases. Seven patients (1.4%) had complications at implantation (pneumothorax 6 cases, catheter migration 1 case). Forty-three patients (8.6%) had complications after port implantation. Among them, 18 suffered port infection, 10 had obstruction of the catheter system, 4 developed skin ulceration, 4 developed port rotation, 3 had venous thrombosis, and 3 developed catheter migration. The cumulative patency rates after 1, 2, and 3 years were 90. 7%, 81. 2%, and 74. 6%, respectively. Complications after port implantation were more frequently developed in home parenteral nutrition than in chemotherapy.