Implanted Venous Access Ports

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• An implanted venous access port is a device placed under your skin to give you medicines and treatments. An implanted venous access port is also called a port, or a totally implanted port (TIP). It may also be called a central venous access device (CVAD). The port is a small container that is normally placed in your upper chest. A port can also be placed in your arm or abdomen (stomach area). The port container is attached to a catheter (tube) that enters a large vein (blood vessel). You may need a port to receive long-term intravenous (IV) medicines or treatments. These include getting chemotherapy medicine to treat cancer, antibiotic (germ-killing) medicine, or liquid food. A port can also be used to take blood samples for testing.
  
  
• The port is made of plastic or metal with a self-sealing cover over the top. The device may have one or two ports, called a single lumen (tube) or a double lumen port. You may get a double lumen port if you need medicines or treatments that cannot be given together. To give medicines or treatments, a non-coring needle is put through your skin and into the port. Non-coring needles do not cause holes when entering or exiting a port. Medicines and treatments can be given through your port at different times, or constantly. Depending on the treatment you are getting, the non-coring needle can stay in place for up to seven days. Having a port may help you get the medicines and treatments that you need.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Home IV medicines: Ask caregivers for information about the medicines and treatments that you need. Medicines may be brought to your home. Read the labels, and ask your caregiver if the medicines need to be kept in the refrigerator. Follow your caregiver's directions to give yourself medicines.
  
  
• Topical anesthetic: Topical anesthetic is a cream that can be put on the skin to numb it. Topical anesthetic can numb the area before your port is accessed (entered) with the non-coring needle. Ask your caregiver if and when you should put the medicine on your port site.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

• You may need to see your caregiver about one week after getting your port to have stitches removed. If skin glue was used to close your cuts, it should peel off on its own. This should take about 5 to 10 days. Do not try to peel the skin glue off, even if there are loose edges.
  
  

Activity:

When your port is not being used, and the area has healed, you may return to your normal activities. You will also be able to bathe, shower, swim, and do other water activities.

Bandages:

Once your procedure site has healed, you may no longer need a bandage to cover the site.

Handwashing:

Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching the port site or the area around it. Washing your hands helps prevent infection. Ask caregivers for information about hand hygiene.

Implanted venous access port care:

• Caring for the skin around your port: The area where your port was placed must be checked daily for signs of infection and other problems. The skin over and around your port must be cleaned before every use. Ask caregivers to show you how to care for your port site. Ask caregivers for written directions about caring for the port site. This includes cleaning your skin and changing the bandage while your port site heals.
  
  
• Using your port at home: Your caregiver may show you or a family member how to give medicines or liquids through your port. A caregiver may also visit you in your home to give you medicines or treatments. Never try to use your port without proper training. Medicines and treatments will enter your port through tubing attached to the needle. The tubing used to give medicine or liquids must be changed. Ask your caregiver to show you how to use your port and how often to change the needle and tubing. Ask caregivers for written directions about using your port at home. This includes preparing medicines and putting in, and taking out the needle. Ask your caregiver how often these tasks need to be done, and who will do them.
  
  
• Flushing your port: Your port will need to be flushed. This is when a syringe is used to push a small amount of liquid into the port and catheter. This liquid may be saline (sterile salt water), heparin (blood thinning medicine), or both. Flushing helps prevent your catheter from getting blocked. Flushing also helps prevent medicines from mixing with each other in the tubing. Flushing with saline is normally done between medicines and treatments. Flushing with heparin is normally done between each port use. Ask caregivers what to use if you need to flush your catheter, and how to flush it correctly.
  
  
• Using a medicine pump: A pump may be used to give you medicines and treatments. Caregivers will teach you how to use your pump. You may be taught to prepare and attach your medicine to the pump. Ask caregivers what to do when the alarm sounds, and how to care for the pump.

Implanted venous access port identification:

Your caregiver will give you a paper or card with information about your port type on it. Keep this information in a safe and easy-to-find place in case you need it.

Removing or replacing your implanted venous access port:

Your port may be removed if you no longer need IV medicines or treatments. Your port may also be removed if it is blocked, damaged, or you get an infection. Ask your caregiver for more information about removing or replacing your port.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• The skin over or around your port breaks open.
  
  
• When accessing your port with a non-coring needle, the needle will not enter smoothly.
  
  
• You cannot pull blood from your port, flush your port, or get your medicine through your port.
  
  
• You feel pain or burning at your port site, with or without use.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have changes in skin color around your port, or fluid is leaking from your port.
  
  
• You have chest pain or trouble breathing that is getting worse over time.
  
  
• You have shoulder pain on the side where your port was placed.
  
  
• Your port site is red, warm, or swollen.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You feel like your heart is jumping or fluttering in your chest.
  
  
• You have a headache, blurred vision, and feel confused.
  
  
• You have pain or swelling in your neck, or an earache on the side where your port was placed.
  
  
• You have pus draining from your port site.
  
  
• You hear a bubbling noise when your port is flushed.
  
  
• Your arm or leg feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
  
  
• You suddenly feel lightheaded and have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have new and sudden chest pain. You may have more pain when you take deep breaths or cough. You may cough up blood.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Implanted Venous Access Ports (Aftercare Instructions)