Description
A catheter is a soft, thin tube that connects to a small port, a round disc made of plastic or metal, placed under your skin. A port and catheter are attached with minor surgery. A surgeon places one end of the catheter into a large vein (under the collar bone). The port and catheter are designed to make the administration of chemotherapy and drawing of blood easier. Ports are discreet. They are either totally invisible or appear as a small bump below the skin. A port-needle is placed in the port to administer chemotherapy or draw blood. This needle may be left in place for chemotherapy administered more than once a day.
Procedure:
A port insertion, also known as a port-a-cath or implanted port, is a procedure where a small, disc-shaped device is surgically placed under the skin to allow for easy and repeated access to a patient’s bloodstream for medication administration, blood draws, and other treatments. The procedure typically involves two small incisions, one for creating a pocket for the port and another for accessing a vein. A catheter connects the port to a major vein, usually in the chest or arm
- Preparation:
The area where the port will be placed (usually the right upper chest) is cleaned and numbed with a local anaesthetic.
- Incision and Pocket Creation:
A small incision is made to create a pouch or pocket under the skin where the port will be placed.
- Vein Access:
Another small incision is made, and a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a vein, guided by imaging technique (fluoroscopy) to ensure correct placement.
- Port Placement:
The catheter is then connected to the port, and the port is placed into the subcutaneous pocket and secured with sutures.
- Closure:
The skin incisions are closed with absorbable sutures and a dressing is applied.
- Post-Procedure:
A chest X-ray is taken to confirm the catheter’s position. Patients can usually go home the same day.
Because chemo port placement is a surgical procedure, there are certain risks, including, but not limited to:
Thrombosis: This can occur when blood clots block the catheter in your chemo port.
- Movement limitations: Excessive movements may cause displacement of your chemo port. Your surgeon may recommend avoiding strenuous activity while your chemotherapy port is in place.
- Pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung, due to the puncture of the lung during the procedure
- Mechanical issues: Some things can keep your chemo port from working properly (like if the catheter moves out of place).
- Scarring: surgery will likely leave a small scar.
- Infection: occurs in about 2% of cases. If this happens, you might need to replace your port. (Signs of infection include fever, pain and inflammation.)
After your consultation:
- Obtain authorization from your medical aid and book your bed for your hospital admission
- Carefully read through pre-operative information provided
Day before surgery:
- You may eat until 22:00 on the day before your surgery
- After 22:00 you may have CLEAR liquids (such as water, apple juice or black tea) until 06:00 on the day of your procedure
- You must be fasted from 06:00 on the day of your procedure
Day of surgery:
- Arrive for admission at indicated time on ‘Code & Consent’ sheet
- Change into theatre attire, remove all valuable belongings
Approximately 45-60 minutes
Duration of hospital stay:
- It is usually only a day procedure.
Activities:
- Excessive movements may cause displacement of your chemo port. Avoid strenuous activity while your chemotherapy port is in place.
Back to work:
- Sick leave required post-operatively is approximately 2 – 5 days in total
After the port is inserted, patients can typically resume a normal diet, but they may be advised to start with liquids and light, easily digestible foods if they experience nausea or vomiting.
Some pain and discomfort post operatively may be expected following any operation, but the following measures are used to lessen the pain experienced:
- Warming devices in theatre as well as warm intravenous fluids
- Intra-operative pain medication through the drip.
- Pain medication will be prescribed to take home in day procedures.
- Mostly follow-up will not be necessary following Port insertion unless otherwise specified by your surgeon.
More procedures performed by Dr Jeske
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE AN APPENDIX THAT IS INFLAMED/SWOLLEN/HAS RUPTURED/HAS FORMED AN ABSCESS.
THE COMMON BILE DUCT (CBD – THE MAIN TUBE CARRYING BILE FROM THE LIVER TO THE INTESTINE) IS OPENED UP. ANY GALLSTONES WITHIN THE DUCT CAUSING A BLOCKAGE CAN BE REMOVED.
PTC is a procedure performed by a radiologist (specialist X-ray doctor) who takes X-ray pictures of the bile ducts which are tubes inside the liver.
THE PANCREAS IS EXPOSED AND FREED FROM THE ADJACENT ORGANS. THE TAIL (DISTAL) HALF OF THE PANCREAS IS REMOVED. THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT GO TO THE SPLEEN PASS THROUGH THE PANCREAS. AS A RESULT THE SPLEEN ALSO SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.
A SURGICAL TECHNIQUE IN WHICH THE DISEASED PORTIONS OF THE HEAD OF THE PANCREAS ARE CORED OUT.