Port-A-Cath Insertions in Acute Leukaemia and Childhood Malignancies

ObjectiveThis retrospective case series sought to determine the incidence and profile of catheter-related complications associated with Port-A-Cath insertions in paediatric cancer patients, as well as predictive factors for infection-related port removals.MethodsBetween January 2002 and December 2004, 175 consecutive Port-A-Cath insertions were followed for a total of 75,000 days (median, 407; range, 6–1,074). Incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), other complications and CRBSI-related port removals were analysed for cases with acute leukaemia versus other malignancies.ResultsA total of 33 CRBSIs were encountered in 26 cases (18.9%), an infection rate of 0.44 episodes per 1,000 catheter days. While mean preoperative platelet count was 125.34 ×109/L in children with acute leukaemia and 392.11× 109/L in those with other malignancies (p < 0.01), the incidence of all complications were similar between both subgroups. Staphylococcus epidermidis (23.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (19.2%) were most commonly isolated from infected ports. Median patient age and duration of implantation in CRBSI-related port removals was 1.5 years and 111 days respectively, and 10.0 years and 414 days respectively in CRBSIs without port removal.ConclusionMinimal complications are associated with Port-A-Cath insertions, even in thrombocy-topaenic leukaemic patients. The dominance of Gram-negative organisms in CRBSIs parallels the changing trend of nosocomial infectious agents involved in catheter-related infections.