Implantable venous access devices outperform PICCs in cancer treatment

Amongst patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors of the lower extremities, implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) prolong catheter indwelling time, reduce catheter-related complications, and maintain shoulder joint function better than peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC), according to a study.

The study compared 65 cases of TIVADs and 65 cases of PICC in patients diagnosed with malignant bone or soft tissue tumors who received regular chemotherapy. The TIVADs group had better outcomes in terms of catheter indwelling time, catheter-related complications, Constant-Murley score for the catheterization-side shoulder joint, and less displacement of the catheter end position after 180° abduction of the catheterization-side shoulder joint compared to the PICC group at 6 months after catheterization.

Reference
Shan J, Lv S, Li H, et al. A comparative study between two methods of delivery of chemotherapeutic agent in patients with bone and soft tissue sarcoma of lower extremity. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023;24(1):317. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06417-7. PMID: 37087416.