Patients' attitudes to totally implantable venous access port systems for gynecological or breast malignancies

Kreis, H.; Loehberg, C.R.; Lux, M.P.; Ackermann, S.; Lang, W.; Beckmann, M.W.; Fasching, P.A.

doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2006.08.003

« Previous Next »European Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume 33, Issue 1 , Pages 39-43, February 2007

Patients' attitudes to totally implantable venous access port systems for gynecological or breast malignancies

H. Kreis
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
C.R. Loehberg
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
M.P. Lux
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
S. Ackermann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
W. Lang
- Department of General Surgery, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
M.W. Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
P.A. Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitaetsstrasse 21–23, D-91054 Erlangen, Bavara, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 9131 853 3508; fax: +49 9131 853 3938.

Accepted 7 August 2006.

Abstract

Aims

The aim of this study was to analyze patients’ port-related quality of life.

Patients and methods

260 consecutive patients with gynecological or breast malignancies were asked to take part in a questionnaire-based survey including 26 questions, and 232 women agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire inquired about port-related aspects of everyday life and the use of a central venous access port device for chemotherapy and supportive cancer care. Multivariate analysis was used to identify parameters associated with satisfaction and dissatisfaction in relation to the port.

Results

Most of the women were very satisfied with the use of a port to provide venous access for chemotherapy and supportive cancer care. Faster hospital procedures, good cosmetic results, and the ability to cope with the social environment had a significant influence on the degree of satisfaction. Fear of port punctures, inconvenient heparinization of the port, and fear of complications were found to be negative variables associated with the method.

Conclusions

Port catheters are well accepted by patients for chemotherapy and supportive cancer care. Generally ports should be rapidly removed after the end of antineoplastic treatment in order to improve patients’ satisfaction with the procedure.

Keywords: Port catheter, Gynecological cancer, Breast cancer, Quality of life