Totally implanted venous port systems are frequently necessary in patients with malignant disease for the administration of chemotherapy. Ports are explanted due to malfunction or clinical signs of infection in the early post-operative period or no longer need in the late period. Early need for explant may be attributed to technical failure or contamination during the implantation. In this study we investigated the early explantation rate of venous ports. Materials and methods: In a

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... e analysis of our clinically database we looked after the explantation rate and the time interval of venous port systems implanted and explanted at our institution between 2007-2016. We looked after early infection rate, malfunction and early thrombosis as cause for explantation in the first 30 days. Results: From a series of 2549 ports implanted at our institution 492 were also explanted. 54 ports (2%) were explanted during the first 30 days and of those 15 (0,6%) in the first two weeks postoperatively. In 66% (36/54) of cases suspected infection of the port system (e.g. fever, positive blood culture, high inflammation parameters, local signs of infection) was the indication for explantation. Interestingly in only 20/36 (55%) of explanted devices microbiological testing was positive. In the other 33% of cases, dislocation of the port system was the reason in 15 patients, port dysfunction in 2 patients and 1 patient suffered from an early line thrombosis. Conclusion: Due to standardised technique and careful implantation technique early explantation of port systems is rare. Only in a minority of patients infection can be proven by positive tests on the explanted device. Since patients are usually in need of port systems for chemotherapy, the indication for explantation for suspected infection has to be balanced carefully.