We describe a central venous catheter-related (Port-A-Cath; Smiths Industries Medical Systems [SIMS] Deltec, Inc., St. Paul, Minn.) infection caused by Rhodotorula glutinis in a 51-year-old man with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He was treated with fluconazole for 8 weeks and had the catheter removed. Two isolates of R. glutinis recovered from blood specimens (one obtained via peripheral veins and ...

BACKGROUND Because of long-term use for chemotherapy and fluid administration in cancer patients, a totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) has been advised as a feasible catheter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) puncture for TIVAP implantation in patients with breast cancer. METHODS We reviewe...

Vascular access ports (VPAs) are totally implantable devices designed to provide repeated access to the vascular system. Port access is performed by percutaneous needle insertion using a noncoring needle. VAPs have been placed in 12 dogs affected by different tumors and needing long lasting chemotherapy. Using the non-invasive Seldinger technique a silicone catheter was inserted from the jugula...

BACKGROUND Implantable venous access port (IVAP)-related blood stream infections (BSIs) are one of the most common complications of implantable venous ports. The risk factors and pathogens for IVAP-related BSIs are still controversial. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all patients who received IVAPs at a Hospital in Taiwan from January 1, 2011 to June 31, 2014. Two types of venous port, Ba...

BACKGROUND Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy requires the implantation of a transcatheter application system which is traditionally performed by surgery. This procedure, but particularly the adjacent drug application via pump or port is often hampered by specific complications and device failure. Interventionally implanted port catheter systems (IIPCS) facilitate the commencement ...

The development of an artificial pancreas (AP) made huge strides from 2006 to 2008 and a large number of activities are going on in this area of research. Until now, most AP systems under development were tested only under highly controlled conditions. The aim of our project, funded by the European Union, is to develop an AP system to such a level that it can be studied under daily life conditi...

A patient is presented in whom a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) formed a knot which was fixed in the region of the tricuspid valve chordea. The PAC was successfully and nonsurgically freed from its attachment and removed. A guide wire was introduced by the distal port of the PAC and under fluoroscopy the PAC was manipulated free and then extracted easily.

Inspissated bile syndrome in a 6 week old boy was unresponsive to oral ursodesoxycholic acid. Intraoperative cholangiography revealed complete obstruction of the common bile duct. Therefore, the gallbladder fundus was pulled out through a laparoscopy port site and sutured to the fascia. A catheter was positioned into the infundibulum for irrigation with ursodesoxycholic acid. At day 8 complete ...

Central venous access devices are extensively used for long-term chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition. However, there are some possible immediate, early, and late complications related to the implantation technique, care, and maintenance. We present the uncommon occurrence of a thrombosis of the internal jugular vein due to a spontaneous migration of a Port-A-Cath catheter into the ipsilateral...

INTRODUCTION Central venous catheters play an important role in the management of cancer patients. Different types of devices are associated with different patterns of complications. We report on the pattern of use and rate of complications of port-a-caths in patients diagnosed with malignant cancer at a single institution. METHODOLOGY The data were collected retrospectively from patients who...