Effect and Safety of an Innovative Improved Totally implanted venous access port (TIVAP) Implantation (Noninvasive Chest Wall Implantation) via the Axillary Approach on Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The totally implanted venous access port (TIVAP) is widely applied to chemotherapy. The traditional approach is to implant the port by directly cutting skin at the chest wall, but surgical scarring on the chest wall may bring permanent psychological trauma to patients and affect the port once the incision is infected. In this study, the effect and safety of an improved port implantation (noninvasive chest wall implantation) via the axillary approach on breast cancer patients were evaluated. Methods This study discusses the surgical steps of the improved port implantation. The incidences of complication, comfort, convenience, aesthetics, and privacy from the improved operation were analyzed and compared with the traditional operation. Results All patients successfully presented improved infusion port implantation through the axillary access (noninvasive chest wall implantation). Two cases had a hemorrhage during the operation. One case had a postoperative subcutaneous hemorrhage, and one case had a folded catheter. Nevertheless, the patients did not need a secondary operation for adjustment. The average operation time of the improved infusion port implantation was 51.85 min (range: 37–69 min). The improved operation was significantly better than the traditional operation in terms of aesthetics and privacy. In terms of comfort and convenience, the difference between the two operations was not significant. Conclusions This study described the specific steps and particular aspects of the improved operation. The effectiveness and safety of the improved operation were reported for the first time. The improved operation has been proven safe and reliable, and it entails only a few intraoperative and postoperative complications.