Complications of Port-a-Cath Systems: An Institutional Study on Romanian Oncological Patients

Sep 30, 2026

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Rising cancer incidence and mortality have increased reliance on central venous catheters, including peripherally inserted central catheters and port-a-cath systems, which can lead to mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic complications. A non-randomized observational retrospective study assessed port-a-cath system complications and management in oncological patients at The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricut, ă,” Cluj-Napoca. Among 124 patients, complications occurred in 20%, most commonly infection and thrombosis, and few cases required device removal.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusions

Article Complications of Port-a-Cath Systems: An Institutional Study on Romanian Oncological Patients Adina Nemes, 1,2, Sebastian-Alexandru Pocol 3, Tunde Banciu 2 and Diana Voskuil-Galos, 1,2, * Academic Editor: Eduardo Bruera Received: 1 December 2025 Revised: 25 December 2025 Accepted: 30 December 2025 Published: 5 January 2026 Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Medical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Haieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 40012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [adina.nemes@umfcluj.ro](adina.nemes@umfcluj.ro) 2 Medical Oncology Department, The Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricut, ă Cluj-Napoca, 40015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hat, ieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 40012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania * Correspondence: [diagalos94@gmail.com](diagalos94@gmail.com) Simple Summary The present study assesses complications associated with port-a-cath systems (PCSs) in cancer patients. These devices are essential for drug administration in oncological care settings; however, they pose certain risks, such as infection, thrombosis, and other mechanical issues. By analyzing 124 patients at The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricut, ă,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the authors aimed to determine the incidence of PCS-related complications, their relationship with known prognostic factors, and strategies for management. The findings show that PCSs are largely safe, with infections and thrombosis being the most common complications, most of which can be managed without device removal. Standardized care and early complication management facilitate long-term PCS use, potentially improving patient quality of life. These results provide real-world evidence for healthcare practitioners, encouraging safer PCS use and calling for future studies on complication prevention and management. Abstract Background: Rising cancer incidence and mortality have increased the use of central venous catheters (CVCs), including peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and port-a-cath systems (PCSs), which play an important role in treatment administration. However, CVCs are associated with mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic complications. This study evaluates PCS-related complications and their management in oncological patients at The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricut, ă,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Methods: This non-randomized, observational, retrospective study included cancer patients who had a PCS implanted at The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuă,”Cluj-Napoca, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 and were enrolled in a followup protocol to monitor and manage PCS-related complications. This study evaluated the incidence of complications, their association with predefined prognostic factors, and their management. Results: In the study cohort (n = 124 patients), complications related to the PCS were observed in 20% of the patients, with a mean interval to complication onset of 47 days. Early-onset complications were observed in 40% of patients, while the remaining 60% developed late-onset complications. PCS infection was the most common complication (10 patients), followed by wound dehiscence and thrombosis (6 patients each) . Bleeding, extravasation, catheter migration, port malfunction, and torsion were each documented ina single patient. No prognostic factors were significantly associated with early or late PCS complications, with thrombosis approaching significance (p = 0.051) . Conclusions: PCSs are generally safe in oncology patients; infections and thrombosis predominate as PCSrelated complications, but rarely require removal, and standardized care enables long-term use, improving patient quality of life. Keywords: central venous catheters; port-a-cath system

FAQs

What complications were most frequently observed with port-a-cath systems in this study?

The most common complication was port-a-cath infection, followed by wound dehiscence and thrombosis (each reported in 6 patients). Other complications such as bleeding, extravasation, catheter migration, port malfunction, and torsion were documented in single patients.

How many patients experienced port-a-cath system complications, and when did they typically occur?

Port-a-cath system complications were observed in 20% of the 124-patient cohort, with a mean interval to complication onset of 47 days. Early-onset complications occurred in 40% of affected patients, while 60% developed late-onset complications.

What did the study conclude about the overall safety and management of port-a-cath systems?

Port-a-cath systems were generally safe in oncology patients. Infections and thrombosis predominated, but complications rarely required device removal, and standardized care with early management supported long-term device use and improved patient quality of life.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher