incredible-marketing Arrow

Treatment / Infusion Port Placement and Removal

A port is a small venous access device (about the size of a quarter) used to deliver medicine into the bloodstream. Implanted under your skin usually in the upper chest, the center of the port is made of a tough, self-sealing, rubber-like material that can be punctured through the chest skin with a special needle many times. After each puncture, it will reseal instantly.

Am I a Candidate for a Port Placement?

Ports are used in patients requiring frequent administration of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, intravenous feeding, or blood draws. Medications can be injected into the septum and blood samples can be drawn many times from the port, usually with less discomfort that the usual needle sticks.

Ports have many uses, including:

  • Administration of medication
  • IV fluids
  • Drawing blood samples
  • Administration of chemotherapy

A port eliminates the need for repeated needle sticks into the veins of your arm. Because the port delivers medications into your large central veins, the medications mix with your blood. This dilutes the medications so they are less harmful to your veins.

What to Expect from the Port Placement Procedure

When you come in for your port placement, you will either have local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia – whatever you and your Interventional Radiologist (IR) have discussed prior to your procedure. Your IR will make a small incision above your collarbone and anther incision under your collarbone. A tunnel is created under your skin between the two openings. The catheter will be passed through this tunnel and then gently threaded into a large central vein in your chest using x-ray guidance. Your doctor will make a pocket under your skin, where the port will be placed and secured. This pocket and your incisions will be closed with sutures and sterile surgical glue.

What to Expect from the Port Removal Procedure

When you come in for your port removal procedure, you will likely be given local anesthesia and sedation. Your IR will make a small cut in your skin where the port is placed. Then they will gently remove the port and the catheter. The incision will be closed and bandaged.

Recovery

Port placements are usually performed as outpatient procedures and typically last an hour. Afterwards, you will rest in a recovery area for awhile before you are sent home. Most patients can return to normal activities the next day.

Call your doctor’s office if you notice that the port site has signs of infection, such as:

  • Redness or drainage
  • Excessive bleeding and/or swelling
  • Extreme pain and/or tenderness
  • Fever

Benefits of a Port Placement

  • Long term access – weeks, months or years
  • Fewer needle sticks into your veins to draw blood or infuse medication/fluids
  • Administered medications are diluted by your blood, causing less damage to the surrounding tissues

Whether or not you are a candidate for a port placement will depend on your diagnosis and a consultation with your doctor to determine the most appropriate long term venous access. Call IVC today at 503-612-0498 for more information or to schedule an appointment. You can also read our brochure on Port-A-Cath.

* This information about Infusion Port Placement and Removal was reviewed by Dr. Jason R. Bauer. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the form below.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Read More

We are announcing that Interventional and Vascular Consultants will be closing as of March 10, 2023.

We would like to thank you for the trust you have given us over the years, participating in your healthcare needs has been a privilege.

To assist in a smooth transition to a new provider, you may access your records from your MyHealth account or request a copy of medical records by clicking the link below and completing the Release of Information form.

Medical Records Release Form

Please know that we have greatly valued our relationship with you and wish you the best.

Sincerely,

Jason Bauer, MD RVT
Michael Pfister, MD RVT

This will close in 0 seconds