Background: As the prognosis of lung cancer (LC) patients improves, subcutaneously implanted\ncentral venous access device ports (CV-ports) have frequently been used for continuing chemotherapy\n(CC) or palliative care (PC). In this study, we examined the clinical course of LC patients\nwith subcutaneously implanted CV-ports from the time of receiving chemotherapy to the endpoint\nof cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and treatment\nhistory of LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports between June 2008 and November\n2013 using clinical records and a pharmacy database. Results: Of the 132 LC patients with subcu-taneously implanted CV-ports, 79 (59.8%) had CV-ports for CC (the CC group) and 53 (40.2%) had\nCV-ports for PC (the PC group). After CV-port implantation, LC patients in the CC group received a\nmedian of two regimens with a median of 6 cycles. The median survival time of patients in the CC\nand PC groups was 457 and 44 days, respectively. In the CC group, the median survival time of\nsmall cell and non-small cell LC patients was 342 (95% confidence interval, 235 - 627) and 563\n(95% confidence interval, 368 - 728) days, respectively. Nine patients (6.8%) had their CV-ports\nremoved due to complications. Forty (30.3%) of the 132 enrolled patients were referred for\nat-home PC. The at-home death rate observed among these 40 patients was 30.0% (N = 12). Conclusion:\nCV-ports may contribute to seamless oncological care.
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