A Modified Surface Measurement Method to Determine Catheter Length of Totally Implantable Venous Access Port Via the Right Internal Jugular Vein

Background The accurate determination of the optimal length of catheters for Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports (TIVAP) is crucial to prevent complications and improve patient care. This study sought to evaluate the reliability of a modified surface measurement method for determining the ideal tip position of TIVAP catheters inserted via the right internal jugular vein. Methods A retrospective study was conducted, involving a total of 211 patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms, who underwent TIVAP implantation. A modified surface measurement method was employed to accurately determine the appropriate catheter length for TIVAP placement. This involved measuring the distance from the puncture point (Point A) to the right clavicular notch (Point B), denoted as AB, as well as the distance from the puncture point (Point A) to the portal body (Point C), denoted as AC. The catheter length was then calculated using the equation: catheter length (cm) = AB + AC + 7. The position of the catheter tip was assessed through the use of chest radiography (CXR). Results The mean length of the catheter implanted in all patients was 21.29 ± 1.25 cm (male vs. female, 21.46 ± 1.20 cm vs. 20.99 ± 1.29 cm; p < 0.05). The optimal positioning rate, determined by the vertebral body unit (VBU) measurement, was found to be 94.31%. Additionally, the optimal placement rate based on direct measurement was 92.42%. There were weak but statistically significant associations between the catheter length and the height and weight of patients. Conclusions A revised method for measuring the catheter length of TIVAP via the right internal jugular vein has been developed using surface measurements. This method has been proven to be highly reliable in locating the optimum tip position and was verified by CXR.