What is an implantable port?
An implantable port is a medical device that consists of two components. The first is a thin, soft, plastic tube called a catheter that is typically inserted (tunneled) under the skin of your chest and courses over the collarbone into a large neck vein. The catheter tubing connects to the second component called a reservoir that is implanted under the skin of the upper chest. The port reservoir will show as a small bump underneath your skin, which can be felt but is not visible on the outside of your body. To use the port, a medical professional will pass a special type of needle through the skin into the port reservoir allowing medicines to be given into the vein or blood to be taken from the vein.
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Learn more about the PowerPort® Implantable Port.
What are ports used for?
Implanted ports function just like a regular intravenous (IV) catheter and can be used to inject medications or other intravenous fluids such as chemotherapy, blood transfusions, high-calorie liquids, or antibiotics. Blood can be drawn from the body through the port when it is needed for testing. Having the port implanted makes it possible for you to have your treatment without the need to frequently put needles into veins in your arms. A port may be very useful if doctors or nurses find it difficult to get needles into your veins, or if the walls of your veins have been hardened by previous treatment.
How the Port is Used
A special type of needle, known as a Huber needle, is pushed through the skin and into the port reservoir. The Huber needle connects with the catheter, allowing treatment to be given directly into the bloodstream or blood samples to be drawn. When treatment is completed the Huber needle will be removed.
Port Installation
How is the port put in?
Your port will be put in by a Surgeon or Interventional Radiologist. Ports are typically put in using local anesthesia and relaxing or 'twilight' sedative medications. You will have a small needle put into a vein in your arm or hand and you will be given medicine to help you to relax. The doctor will inject a local anesthetic into your skin to numb a couple of small areas on your chest and neck. After this you may be aware of activity around you and may feel some pressure on your chest (or arm) during the procedure, but you should not feel any pain.
You will have one or two small incisions (cuts in your skin). The first incision will be about 3-4 cm long on your upper chest and is where the port is placed. There will be a smaller incision at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone, which is usually less than 1-2 cm (1/2-1 in) long. The catheter will be tunneled under the skin from the lower chest incision to the incision above. One end of the catheter is then placed into a neck vein and the other end is then attached to the port reservoir. The port reservoir is then fitted into a space created under the skin through the larger incision. The incisions are then stitched closed. If the stitches are not dissolvable they will be removed after about 7-10 days, when the wound has healed.
You may also have a chest x-ray to make sure the port is in the right place.
A small dressing may be used to cover the wounds for a day or so after the procedure. The nursing team will teach you how to look after this.
You may feel a bit sore and bruised for a few days after the port is put in. A mild painkiller such as acetaminophen will help with this.
Immediately after the port has been put in, and for a few days afterwards, check for any redness, swelling, bleeding, bruising, pain or heat around the wounds. Let your hospital doctor know straight away if you have any of these signs as you could have an infection, which may need to be treated.
Care of Your Implantable Port
After each treatment a small amount of fluid is 'flushed' into the catheter so that it does not become blocked. The port will need to be flushed every four weeks if it is not being used more frequently. Apart from this, your port will not need any care at all.
Possible Problems
Infection
It is possible for an infection to develop in the skin above the port reservoir, inside the catheter tubing or under the skin around the port. You should immediately contact your doctor if:
• the area around the port becomes red, swollen or painful.
• there is more pain at the port site than the day before.
• the skin around the port reservoir feels soft or boggy, like walking on wet grass.
• you develop a fever greater than 100 F, feel faint, shivery, breathless or dizzy.
If an infection develops you will likely be treated with antibiotics. If infection involves the port reservoir and the tissues around it the port will most likely need to be removed in order to treat the infection. If the port needs to be removed the skin incision may be left open and the wound packed with gauze to allow any residual infection to drain out from the body through the incision.
Clots
It is possible for a clot (thrombosis) to form in or on the catheter. If enough clot forms around the catheter tubing the vein in which the catheter was placed may become blocked. If this happens, the port may have to be removed. You may also be given some medication (anti-coagulant) to dissolve the clot. Signs of a clot include swelling and tenderness or redness in the neck or the arm (on the same side of the body as the port - depending on where exactly the catheter is).
Port Removal
How is the port removed?
When you no longer need the implantable port it will be taken out. This is usually done by a doctor who will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. The doctor will make a small incision over the site of the port and remove it. The catheter will be pulled out of the vein. The wound is then stitched and covered with a small dressing.
You may feel a bit sore and bruised after your port is removed. A mild painkiller such as acetaminophen will help with this.
Other Information
The port should not interfere with your daily activities, although it is advisable to avoid strenuous exercise for a few weeks after surgery, so that your body can heal. Your doctor or nurse can give you information about this.
Do not lift anything heavier than 10lb (5kg) for at least 1 week after port implantation.
Only the Huber needles should be used on your port. Do not let anyone use any other type of needle on your port.
You may wish to wear a medical ID bracelet saying that you have an implanted port.
