To investigate the safety, feasibility, and clinical application value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-guided insertion of totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) in patients with digestive system cancer.

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 15 digestive system cancer patients who were inserted with TIVAP under DSA guidance between April 2013 and January 2016, recorded the TIVAP-related complications and indwelling time, and investigated the patients' satisfaction about TIVAP. Paired rank sum test was used for the differences in patients' quality of life before and after the insertion of TIVAP.

Of the 15 digestive system cancer patients, operation success rate of TIVAP insertion was 100%, with the success rate of venipuncture on first attempt being 100%. The incidence of complication was 6.67% (1/15), which was manifested as pull feeling at the neck occurring in the eighth month after insertion. The indwelling time of TIVAP was from 2 to 28 months, with a median value of 9 months. Patients' satisfaction rate of TIVAP was 86.67% (13/15). The proportion of patients with a good quality of life was 100% (15/15), statically significantly higher than that before the insertion [46.67% (7/15), Z=-3.416, P=0.000).

TIVAP insertion under DSA guidance in digestive system cancer patients is safe and feasible, with few complications and fair patient satisfaction. It may improve the patient's quality of life, worthy of clinical application.

Implantable venous access port; Digestive system; Cancer; Digital subtraction angiography