The usefulness of totally implantable central venous port for long-term intravenous infusion is widely accepted in children. Usually the catheters are placed through the internal or external jugular vein. In case of jugular vein cut-down, two separate incisions are needed for catheter and port respectively. Patients also feel uncomfortable as the catheter run through the neck. However these disadvantages can be overcome by using the cephalic vein (CV). We reviewed our experiences on CV cut-down for totally implantable central venous port in children. From January 2002 to December 2006, 201 patients (M:F=127:74) underwent 218 central venous port insertions. Mean age at operation was 5.9 years (2 months - 19 years). Indications included chemotherapy (N=167), long-term intravenous antibiotics infusion (N=36), and total parenteral nutrition (N=15). CV was selected preferentially. The incision includes the deltopectoral triangle laterally, and both the CV cut-down and port insertion were achieved with a single incision. The number of insertion through external, internal jugular vein, and CV was 77, 66 and 75, respectively. The median age, height and body weight were higher in CV cut-down group. The youngest age for CV cut-down was 8 months, the shortest height was 69 cm and the smallest body weight was 5.9 kg. Of 118 trials of CV cut-down, cut-down was successful in 75 cases (63.6 %). CV was absent in 10 cases(8.4 %) and CV was sacrificed after catheter tip malposition in 10 cases (8.4 %). There was only one complication, in which the catheter was inserted into the minute branch of subclavian artery. The CV cut-down method for totally implantable central venous port was safe and feasible in selected groups of patients in children. In addition, preservation of jugular vein and a more favorable cosmetic effect are other benefits of CV cut-down.

Percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian catheterization has been widely used for a total parenteral nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring and for venous access in difficult clinical situations. Many authors have claimed the infraclavicular cannulation of the subclavian vein in the tiniest infants can be performed with safety and ease, but there are always possibility of serious complications in this method. We present our experiences of peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter. Author routinely introduced Broviac catheter into central vein via peripheral venous cutdown. There was no life threatening complications and no catheter related death. The complication rate was very low. The catheter related sepsis was documented in only two patient(4.7%). The average catheter longivity was 19.59 days. In view of the safety and low rate of complication, we think that peripheral venous cutdown with Broviac catheter should be the method of choice when central venous access is neccesary in infants. The infraclavicular subclavian catheterization should be reserved in infants with few accessable peripheral vein.