Complications of PORT-A-CATH® in patients with sickle cell disease

Salam Alkindi, Samaa Matwani, Alghalia Al-Maawali, Buthaina Al-Maskari, Anil Pathare
2012 Journal of Infection and Public Health  
Red cell exchange/transfusion is frequently used in the management of patients with medical complications related to acute severe sickle cell disease (SCD). However, peripheral venous access is often difficult without central venous catheters (CVCs) in adult patients with moderate or severe SCD. Aims: To review our experience with the use of the PORT-A-CATH ® device in sixteen patients with SCD undergoing exchange or simple transfusions. Methods: Among a cohort of 550 patients who frequently
more » ... ited the inpatient service, sixteen SCD patients required the insertion of a PORT-A-CATH ® device. These patients included 3 males and 13 females, aged 25-44 years [31.1 ± 2.3; mean ± SD]. A total of 24 PORT-A-CATH ® devices were implanted in these 16 patients during the study period. Eleven patients had 1 device implanted, three patients had 2 devices, one patient had 3 devices, and one patient had 4 devices implanted. Results: Out of the 24 devices implanted, 17 required removal, due to either infection associated with sepsis and/or thrombosis. The organisms involved were Candida spp. ( 3 ), C. Parapsilosis (2), C. albicans (1), C. famata (1), C. lusitanice (1), Staphylococcus spp. (6), and S. aureus (3), as well as the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (2), alpha hemolytic Streptococcus (1), Diphtheroid bacilli (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2), Ps. Spp. (3), Escherichia coli (3), Klebsiella oxytoca (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1), Klebsiella spp. (1), Serratia liquefaciens (1), Serratia fanticola (1), Achromobacter spp. (2) Chromobacterium violaceum (1), Delftia acidovirans (1), Stenotrophomonas maltophile (1), Alcaligenes faecalis (1), and Enterobacter cloacae (1). Two episodes of documented thrombosis were observed.
doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2011.10.004 pmid:22341844 fatcat:kaktztcadvhclkqzy5vl7ptoie