Radiographic External Measurement Technique for TIVAP Placement

Accuracy and Clinical Applicability of a Chest X-Ray-Based External Measurement Method for Optimal Catheter Tip Positioning in Totally Implantable Venous Access Port Placement

Totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) are commonly used in patients who need long-term intravenous treatment such as chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, or repeated blood sampling. Correct placement of the catheter tip is important to reduce the risk of complications, including arrhythmia, thrombosis, catheter dysfunction, vessel injury, and infection.

Several methods are used to determine catheter tip position during port placement, including fluoroscopy, echocardiography, and chest X-ray. However, some of these methods may require additional equipment, increase procedure time, or may not be available in all hospitals.

This study aims to evaluate a simple chest X-ray-based external measurement method to estimate the appropriate catheter length before TIVAP placement. In this method, anatomical landmarks identified on a recent chest X-ray are used to calculate the expected catheter length, which is then applied during the procedure.

The main goal of the study is to assess how accurately this method places the catheter tip in the desired anatomical position. Secondary goals include evaluating the rate of optimal tip placement, procedure-related complications, and the relationship between predicted and actual catheter tip positions.

If successful, this method may provide a practical, low-cost, and widely applicable technique to improve TIVAP placement in routine clinical practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Catherization; Vascular Access Device
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Chest X-Ray-Based External Measurement Method

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 69
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • ABD Dışında
    • Istanbul, ABD Dışında, Turkey (Türkiye), 34400
      • SBU Bagcilar Education and Training Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older
• Scheduled for elective totally implantable venous access port placement
• Available posterior-anterior chest X-ray obtained within the previous 3 months
• Ability to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known central venous stenosis or occlusion due to previous central venous catheter or port history
• Congenital heart disease
• Significant mediastinal anatomical abnormality or distortion
• Chest X-ray in which anatomical landmarks cannot be clearly identified
• Emergency port implantation
• Pregnancy (if required by local ethics policy)
• Refusal or inability to provide written informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Chest X-Ray-Based External Measurement Group; Participants in this arm undergo totally implantable venous access port placement using a chest X-ray-based external measurement method to determine catheter length before implantation. Anatomical landmarks identified on a recent chest X-ray are used to estimate the target catheter length. Post-procedure chest X-ray is performed to assess final catheter tip position and procedural outcomes.

Procedure: Chest X-Ray-Based External Measurement Method; A pre-procedural measurement technique used during totally implantable venous access port placement. Anatomical landmarks identified on a recent posterior-anterior chest X-ray are used to estimate the appropriate catheter length before implantation in order to optimize final catheter tip position.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Accuracy of Optimal Catheter Tip Positioning	Proportion of participants with the catheter tip located at the cavoatrial junction or within 1-2 cm proximal to this level on post-procedure chest X-ray.	Immediately after port implantation (within 24 hours)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascıoglu Education and Research Hospital Organization

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): May 27, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Port Catheter; Totally Implantable Venous Access Port; Central Venous Catheter Catheter Tip Position
• Other Study ID Numbers: 6814288

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No