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Port Placement

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WHAT IS IT?

HOW IS A PORT INSERTED

  • Your port will be inserted using a combination of ultrasound and X-ray technologies to ensure a safe, and minimally invasive approach, with very low risk of complication.
  • A combination of conscious sedation and local anesthesia makes this procedure very well tolerated on an outpatient basis.
  • Ultrasound is used to advance a small needle into a vein, typically the right internal jugular vein.
  • A small incision is made, typically on the chest wall, and the port is inserted into this small pocket. The catheter (skinny tube) that arises from the port is advanced under the skin to the location of the initial puncture.
  • Through the initial needle, a soft wire is inserted, the needle is removed and a sheath is advanced over the wire. The sheath is a hollow tube that acts as conduit to allow the catheter to be advanced into the vein.
  • The catheter of the port is measured with X-ray and inserted through the sheath and into the vein. The sheath is removed and the incisions are closed with sutures and skin glue.

WHEN CAN I USE MY NEW PORT?

  • The port is ready to be used at the end of the procedure. In fact, if patient is planning on getting chemotherapy that day, we can leave the port accessed.

WILL I HAVE TO GET ANY STITCHES TAKEN OUT?

  • No. All of the stitches are under the skin. There is also a thin layer of skin glue on top of the incision keeping it closed.

WHAT ARE MY RESTRICTIONS AFTER PORT PLACEMENT?

  • You will need a driver to take you home because of the sedation medicines.
  • You will be given a sheet of instructions following port placement.
  • Bandages can come off in 24 hrs and can take showers, just pat the area dry.
  • Do not submerge the incision until completely healed.
  • The skin glue tends to peel off in 2-3 weeks, do not pick at it.

WHEN SHOULD I CALL WITH ISSUES?

  • Anytime, with any questions, we are here to make sure this process is individualized to your needs.

    • If you start running a fever >101, increasing redness or warmth around insertion site, or persistent bleeding or swelling from site.

WHAT KIND OF PORT DO I HAVE?

  • You will be given a card to keep in your wallet/purse with make and model of the port inserted.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THIS PROCEDURE?

  • Although this is considered a low risk, minimally invasive procedure, as with any medical procedures, complications can rarely occur.

    • These can include:

    • Bleeding/bruising
    • Infection
    • Malpositioned port
    • Injury to the vessels or adjacent structures

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE AND WHEN CAN I SCHEDULE IT?

  • This is a quick and safe procedure. The total procedure time is typically 15-20 minutes with 30-60 min recovery time.
  • Because of our outpatient procedural area, we can usually get patients scheduled and in for the procedure within a 1-2 days.