A novel exploration of treating local skin infections around totally implantable venous access ports: port repositioning technique vs. port re-implantation technique

TL;DR

This study compares two techniques for treating skin infections around implanted medical ports, finding that repositioning is less invasive and cheaper than re-implantation.

Contribution

The study introduces port repositioning as a novel, minimally invasive alternative to re-implantation for treating periport infections.

Findings

Both port repositioning and re-implantation achieved 100% technical success and functional outcomes.

Repositioning showed comparable port dwell time with re-implantation, with no significant difference between groups.

Port repositioning is suggested as a cost-effective and less invasive treatment option for periport infections.

Abstract

To conduct a comparative assessment of the safety and efficacy of the port repositioning technique and the port re-implantation technique in treating periport skin infections associated with totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs).

A retrospective analysis was performed on 35 patients who presented with periport skin infections at Jiangyin People's Hospital between June 2016 and August 2022. Among them, 15 patients in Group A underwent port repositioning surgery, while 20 patients in Group B received port re-implantation surgery. Clinical data of all patients were meticulously collected, including postoperative wound healing status and the functionality of the repositioned or re-implanted TIVAPs.

In Group A, the median age was 58 years (IQR 46–63 years); in Group B, the median age was 60.5 years (IQR 54.3–70 years). The median BMI of Group A patients was 22.2 kg/m2 (IQR 20.4–23.5 kg/m2); the median BMI of Group B patients was 21.5 kg/m2 (IQR 20.5–23.1 kg/m2). Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%), and all ports were functional postoperatively. In Group A, the median indwelling time of the repositioned TIVAPs was 7 months (IQR 4–11 months); in Group B, the median indwelling time of the newly re-implanted TIVAPs was 5 months (IQR 3–8 months); there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Compared with the port re-implantation technique, the port repositioning technique for periport skin infections is a minimally invasive and cost-effective approach. Nevertheless, further investigations with a larger number of cases are required to comprehensively validate its safety and reliability.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40001-025-03039-8.

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