Chemoport

Share on Pinterest Most of us are familiar with But there are other aspects of treatment you may not have heard of, like a port-a-catheter (aka port-a-cath or port), which is a mechanism used to deliver medicines, nutrients, blood products, or fluids into your blood and to take blood out of your body for testing. The port is one of the most common types of central venous catheters. The other is the PICC (pronounced “pick”) line. Here are five things to know about ports if you’re considering chemotherapy, which can involve the use of a port to administer treatment. A port is a plastic disc (roughly the size of a U.S. quarter or Canadian loonie) that is placed underneath your skin, usually above your breast or below the collarbone, and is used to intravenously feed medication directly into a large vein and into the heart. It can also be used to withdraw blood as well. If you are in treatment, you will need to have your veins accessed frequently. A port is used to avoid poking your arm with needles numerous times and for protecting small veins. It is removed after therapy and leaves a small scar behind. Although a port may be recommended, getting one is a decision you need to make with your doctor. There are many factors to consider including cost, type, and schedule of treatment, as well as other existing medical conditions you may have. It can also be inserted in your upper arm, but this is something you often have to advocate for in Canada, as it is not the standard placem...

Throughout Luckily, a small, implanted device called a port can be used to help patients avoid unnecessary pokes with a needle. MD Anderson. He shares answers to seven common questions about chemotherapy ports. 1. What is a chemo port? A port is a device placed under the skin which connects to one of your major veins. It looks like a disc around the size of a quarter, with a flexible tube attached. Ports can be made of metal or plastic. 2. What are chemo ports used for? Though they’re often called “chemo ports,” they’re not just used for On treatment days, you’ll have your port accessed once, with a special needle stuck directly into the port. That way, if you need any additional infusions or blood draws, those can go through the port so that you don’t need multiple needle sticks. Having a port can make cancer treatment a bit more comfortable. Just about anything we can do through a traditional IV can be done through a port. 3. How are chemo ports placed? Because ports are under the skin, they’re placed during a Ports can be in the arm or chest, but at MD Anderson, we usually install them on the chest just under the collarbone, and they lead to the jugular vein or subclavian vein. A catheter attached to the port will go over the collarbone and into the jugular vein in the lower neck. The tip of the catheter will be where the superior vena cava joins the heart. You may be able to see the port under your skin after it’s placed, but you can continue your normal activities onc...

Overview An implanted port is a device that's placed, in most cases, under the skin of your chest below your collarbone. It's made of plastic, stainless steel, or titanium. The port is about the size of a quarter, but thicker. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter runs from the port under your skin into a large vein. A membrane (septum) similar to a pencil eraser is in the center of the port. A nurse uses a needle to put chemotherapy or other medicine and fluids through the septum into a blood vessel. The port may be used to draw blood for tests only if another vein, such as in the hand or arm, can't be used. An implanted port can be used for months. A special needle (called a Huber needle) may stay in the port for a short time. The port needs regular care to make sure that it doesn't get blocked. Tell your doctor if you take aspirin or some other blood thinner. These medicines can increase the chance of bleeding inside your body. How can you care for yourself at home? • You will probably need to take 1 day off from work and will be able return to normal activities shortly after. This depends on the type of work you do, why you have the port, and how you feel. • You probably will be able to bathe and swim. But you may need to avoid some activities if a Huber needle is left in the port. Talk to your doctor about any limits on your activity. • Some clothes may rub the skin over the port. Do not wear a bra or suspenders that irritate your skin near the port. • You will get ...

About central venous catheters One decision you may need to make before beginning Catheters are long, hollow plastic tubes that make it easier to put medication, blood products, nutrients, or fluids directly into your bloodstream. A CVC can also make it easier to take blood samples for testing. Your oncologist may also decide a CVC is necessary if you’ll need to have: • continuous infusion chemotherapy • treatment that lasts for 24 hours or more • treatment while at home Some chemotherapy drugs are considered harmful if they leak outside your veins. These are called vesicants or irritants. Your oncologist may recommend a CVC to prevent this from occurring. CVCs are considered more manageable than a regular intravenous (IV) catheter because they can stay in your body longer. Some CVCs can be left in your body for: • weeks • months • years A regular IV catheter can only stay in for a few days. This means your oncologist or nurse will have to reinsert multiple IVs into your veins over the course of your treatment which can damage small veins over time. There are different types of CVCs. The most common are peripherally inserted central catheters, or PICC lines, and ports. The type of CVC you’ll need depends on a few of the following factors, including which one your oncologist prefers: • How long you’ll need chemotherapy • How long it takes to inject your chemotherapy doses • How many drugs you’ll receive at once • Whether you have any other medical problems like A PICC line ...

here is the report With the patient in the supine position, the left chest was prepped and draped in a sterile fashion. 1% lidocaine was infiltrated in the area of the previous incision on the anterior left chest and then infiltrated into the pocket surrounding the Port-a-cath. A 2 cm transverse incision was made and carried down to the level of the capsule on the existing Port-a-cath. The Catheter and going up towards the subclavian vein was identified and grasped with an Allis clamp and then tretracted easil. The catheter appeared clean without evidence of infection or thrombus. the stitch holding the Port-a-cath to the pectoral fascia was then identified and divided. the complete capsule holding the device was then opened and the specimen removed. the fibrous capsule was then excised using electrocautery and sent for culture. the hemostasis was obtained. the wound was cloed with running layers of 2-o vicryl suture.