An analysis of the outcomes of totally implantable access port implantation performed by surgical residents

Article information

Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2021;17(1):15-22

Publication date (electronic) : 2021 June 30

doi : https://doi.org/10.14216/kjco.21003

Se-Beom Jeon, Youngbae Jeon, Kyoung-Won Han, Yong-Soon Chun, Jeong-Heum Baek

Department of Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea

Correspondence to: Jeong-Heum Baek, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, 21 Namdong-daero 774beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Korea, Tel: +82-32-460-8428, Fax: +82-32-460-3247, E-mail: gsbaek@gilhospital.com

Received 2021 May 06; Revised 2021 June 23; Accepted 2021 June 28.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Totally implantable access ports (TIAPs) are used in patients requiring long-term intravenous administration. It is currently used for the continuous administration of anticancer drugs. Subcutaneous insertion of access devices for chemotherapy was performed in the 1980s [1].

TIAP insertion is usually performed by a specialized surgeon or an interventional radiologist. The preference for a particular procedure, such as ultrasound guidance or a blind technique for a targeted venous puncture, could differ among operators [2].

Complications such as hematoma, infection, and catheter tip malposition may occur. However, totally implantable catheter insertion is a relatively simple procedure and is safe for local anesthesia [3–5]. Therefore, it is a common practice in university hospitals as part of the training process. Several studies have compared the safety of the procedure between staff and residents and among different vascular access routes performed by residents [6,7]. However, there has been no report on the safety and effectiveness of successful TIAP implantations among different resident grades.

This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the long-term safety and effectiveness of TIAP implantation performed by three different resident groups (second-, third-, and fourth-grade residents) for educational purposes.

METHODS

Patient selection and resident groups

A total of 345 patients with high-risk or stage IV colorectal cancer underwent TIAP implantations from January 2013 to December 2015 in the Department of Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center. All chemoport insertions were performed by trainee-residents in the department of surgery. The patients were divided into three groups according to the grade of the resident who performed the implantation: second, third, and fourth grade. All residents were trained on five cases of TIAPs under the observation of the staff before the 1st TIAPs. Fifty-four patients were excluded from the analysis because TIAP implantation was performed by a first-grade (inexperienced) resident and because of incomplete data in the operation record. Finally, 291 consecutive patients were retrospectively included in this study (Fig. 1). All relevant data were entered into a prospectively maintained database. Our practice is to follow up colorectal cancer patients every 3 months postoperatively for the first 2–3 years, and every 6 months thereafter up to 5 years. TIAPs were removed when adjuvant chemotherapy was completed or when problems with the chemoport, such as infection or malfunction, occurred. TIAPs were maintained in stage IV patients for continued chemotherapy. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gachon University Gil Medical Center (IRB No. GAIRB2020-332). The informed consent was waived.

Fig. 1

Study flowchart. TIAP, totally implantable access port.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics of patients among the resident-grade groups are shown in Table 1. A total 291 TIAP implantations were performed: second-grade residents (n=77), third-grade residents (n=150), and fourth-grade residents (n=64). No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups in age, sex, and BMI. All TIAP implantations were performed via the IJV: 285 patients underwent implantation via the right IJV, and six patients underwent implantation via the left IJV. The route was also not significantly different among the resident-grade groups. However, differences were observed among the three groups in the use of USG and C-arm. The higher the grade, the lower the frequency of USG use (P<0.001), whereas the C-arm use was the same (P= 0.015).

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of patients among the resident-grade groups

The comparison of operative outcomes and complications according to the grade of residents is shown in Table 2. The puncture time was shorter when the resident grade was higher (P=0.033). The cannulation time and total operation time were also shorter as the resident grade became higher, and the differences were significant (P<0.001).

Table 2

Operative outcomes, complications, and median follow-up duration according to resident grade

The VBU, calculated as an indicator for a successful TIAP implantation, was more frequently in the proper range in lower resident grades; however, there was no significant difference among the groups (P=0.080).

Fifty-four early complications (18.6%) occurred in the 291 TIAP implantations. Early complications decreased with higher resident grades and were statistically significant (P=0.039). The most frequently documented early complication was bleeding at the insertion site, which showed statistically significant differences among the resident groups. Two simple chest radiographs were examined after TIAP implantations in all 291 patients, but pneumothorax was not detected.

Late complications were confirmed in 18 cases (6.2%); however, there was no significant difference among the resident groups. All late complications were not statistically different among the resident groups.

All possible risk factors for early complications were evaluated using univariate analysis (Table 3). Univariate analysis showed that the use of USG (odds ratio [OR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17–1.02; P=0.055), use of C-arm (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.79; P=0.007), and TIAP implantations performed by third-grade residents compared with second-grade residents (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13–0.83; P=0.019) were associated with a decreased incidence of complications. Multivariate analysis also showed that the none use of USG (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12–0.82; P=0.018) and use of C-arm (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.72; P=0.003) were independent risk factors for complications.

Table 3

Univariate and multivariate analyses for risk factors of early complications

The possible risk factors for late complications were also evaluated using univariate analysis (Table 4). C-arm use (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14–0.93; P=0.036) was the only independent risk factor for late complications.

Table 4

Univariate and multivariate analyses for risk factors of late complications

We analyzed the variables affecting the catheter maintenance period. The duration of the catheter maintenance period was not significantly different according to resident groups and early complications (Figs. 2, 3). However, the catheter maintenance period was different depending on late complications (P=0.003) (Fig. 4).

Fig. 2

Kaplan-Meier survival test of the catheter maintenance period by resident group.

Fig. 3

Kaplan-Meier survival test of the catheter maintenance period by early complications.

Fig. 4

Kaplan-Meier survival test of the catheter maintenance period by late complications.

We also evaluated the risk factors of optimal tip position with univariate analysis (Table 5). The use of C-arm (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.01–4.04; P=0.046), TIAP implantations performed by third-grade residents compared with second-grade residents (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10–0.64; P=0.004), and TIAP implantations performed by fourth-grade residents compared with second-grade residents (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10–0.84; P=0.022) were significant risk factors for optimal tip position. In multivariate analysis, the use of C-arm (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 0.94–3.86; P=0.075) was not a significant independent risk factor. However, resident grade between second and third (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11–0.67; P=0.005) and between second and fourth (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12–0.96; P=0.041) were independent risk factors for optimal tip position.

Table 5

Univariate and multivariate analyses for risk factors of optimal tip position

DISCUSSION

TIAP implantation is important for long-term safe venous access in patients with malignant tumors. A large number of TIAP implantations have been applied in many hospitals because of the increasing use of chemoports for the chemotherapy of malignant tumors. In the past, TIAP implantation was performed by a specialized surgeon or radiologist; however, it is now a basic surgical technique for resident training and has been confirmed to be safe even when performed by a surgical resident in previous studies [6]. However, considering the reduction of complications and the importance of successful TIAP implantations, the timing of appropriate training should be given consideration.

As most TIAP implantations are performed under local anesthesia, shortening the operation time is important for reducing the patients’ physical and mental pain. In previous studies on TIAP implantations performed by residents, the mean total operation time of the resident group was 33–46 minutes [6,7]. The total operation time in our study was 34.1±10.5 minutes, which is comparable to the results of other previously published studies. In this study, it was confirmed that the operation time was significantly shorter as the resident grade increased. Moreover, it was confirmed that the operation time was significantly shorter as the grade increased. Although we did not conduct an analysis of the learning curve, the results can indirectly show the difference in the cumulative experience with the TIAP procedure.

TIAP implantation can have a variety of complications, from relatively insignificant complications such as bleeding or puncture failure to important complications including infections or thrombosis. The intraoperative complication rate in other studies on TIAP implantations performed by residents alone was 2.2%, which was lower than that in our study. However, in a previous study, bleeding was not included as a complication [6]. If bleeding is to be excluded from complications, then there would be no significant difference from the early complication rate in our study (6.5%). Conversely, the late complication rate in our study (6.2%) was lower than the postoperative complication rate in the previous study (15.7%) [6]. In our study, the decrease in the incidence of early complications as the resident grade became higher indicates that it is important that the operation is performed by higher-grade residents. However, considering that most complications are minor complications such as bleeding, and there was no statistical difference in critical complications, including puncture failure, reinsertion, and late complications, the procedure can be considered relatively safe even if performed by a low-grade resident.

The use of USG in TIAP implantation is important for safe venous catheterization. This is known as a method to avoid problems such as arterial puncture and puncture failure [13,14]. In this study, fewer complications occurred when USG and C-arm were used and performed by third-grade residents rather than second-grade residents. However, the complication ratio between the second-grade resident group and the fourth-grade resident group was not statistically significant, which means that the use of USG and C-arm is more important than the resident grade in TIAP implantation.

One of the objectives of this study was to analyze the factors affecting catheter maintenance through a long-term follow-up of TIAP implantations. Considering that late complications are an important factor in catheter maintenance, it can be presumed that the management of chemoports is more important than the grade of the resident performing TIAP implantation.

In addition, a C-arm is used to place the catheter in the proper position [15], which is important considering that malpositioning of the catheter may cause serious complications such as central venous thrombosis and cardiac tamponade [16,17]. According to the results of this study, proper catheter positioning according to the use of C-arm was statistically significant. However, the tip position was inadequate as the resident grade became higher. Considering that the frequency of C-arm use decreased as the resident grade increased, this means that the use of C-arm is more important than the procedural experience and is a major factor in determining the optimal location of the catheter. The conclusion of the study support the use of ultrasound and C-arm during the procedure to reduce complication risk even in low-grade residents.

This study had some limitations. First, it had a retrospective design, which could lead to a selection bias. Second, we did not perform learning curve analysis. Although there were significant differences in operative time and early complications according to the resident grade, the exact number of chemoport insertion procedures each resident has performed was unclear. However, this study is meaningful in that it analyzed the important factors for a successful chemoport catheter implantation, which is one of the basic procedures for general surgery resident training, over a long-term period.

In conclusion, Taking into consideration the operation time and complications, it would be appropriate for TIAP implantations to be performed by third- or fourth-grade residents. However, considering that it can be sufficiently performed properly with the use of USG and C-arm, TIAP implantation can be safely and effectively performed even by low-grade residents.

Article information Continued