Incidence of port site complications in relation to timing of bevacizumab infusion

IntroductionBevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor, with a serious complication of wound healing complications. The package insert currently does not have recommendations on the management of bevacizumab administration around minor procedures, including port placements. Currently, there are only two trials that have examined the optimal timing of bevacizumab after port placement.MethodsThis is a single-center retrospective trial aiming to evaluate the rate of wound dehiscence and other port site complications depending on the time between port placement and bevacizumab infusion. Eligible patients who have had at least one port place and have received bevacizumab for an oncologic indication were identified in a study period of 1/1/2016-3/31/2021. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of wound dehiscence in relation to the timing of bevacizumab infusion.ResultsA total of 243 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 116 port placements had a port site complication. For wound dehiscence, 6% was observed 0 days from port placement, 10% was observed 1 day from port placement, 0% was observed 2 days from port placement, 0% was observed 3-7 days from port placement, 3% was observed 8-14 days from port placement, and 3% was observed 15-30 days from port placement.ConclusionsThe results of this study show an inverse relationship between the risk of wound dehiscence and port site complication and the timing of bevacizumab infusion to port placement, with an increase in absolute risk of wound dehiscence when bevacizumab is given within 2 days of port placement.