If your port stopped drawing...what were you told???? UPDATE!!!!!!

It's a Big Deal...
Jennie

This just happened to me again while I was getting my scope done...it has happened on other ports I've had as well. They couldn't get a return. I had been having s sharp pain or two in my chest above the port area, but dismissed it.

When she asked to access the port and got a funny look on her face, I knew right away what had happened....got right off the scope table and drove down to infusion to get this cleared up.

Go to your infusion center and have them inject some TPA - this is like drano...it helps to dissolve the clots...has to be in the port for at least 30-minutes or so.

After that, they will try to draw blood again - ususally they will get it after that...if it still stays clogged they will refer you to Intervention Radiology where they will inject dye to confirm.

And if it has gone bad, it will need to be replaced...the issue is not whether they can inject in, but can draw out. This could lead to a clot of some type with all the scar tissue buildup around the port from the surgery itself and all of the clumping over time.

I've had 3 of them now - and replaced 2...TPA cleared me up and I'm good to go.

So, try this Jennie...it will either work or won't.

As for Why is it so important to keep up that blood flow when my people make it sound like...so what??? Just get it out of your arm.

"Your people 'ain't' like my people!" LOL!

Seriously though, get it looked and a shot of TPA...we don't want to mess around.

-Craig:)

Same Port for 8 Years
Mine returns blood maybe 70% of the time. I had a Flow Test done and it's fine, it works perfectly.
It's also a dual port but almost ever since it was put it the return was never consistent.

same thing
Hi Jennie,
I had a port for 4 years and never once had a problem. My husband however has had the same problem you had. After only a few months they could not get blood out of it and it was hurting him. We ended up back in the hospital and they had to go in and fix it...apparently the catheter part of it was kinked and they went in through his groin with some type of device and pulled the kink out of it. They told him that it does happen sometimes from different things like coughing, vomiting, or in his case throwing a baseball..they said if that didn't work they would have to take it out and put a new one back in. He had the power port. Hope they get yours fixed soon. Hugs, Teri

Jennie mine had problems a
Jennie mine had problems a couple of times. They put a medication in called Activase. Its a thrombolytic medication that thins the blood and breaks up clots. The last time they used it for me it took two hours to get my port working. They would try to draw about every 30 minutes and it just didn't want to draw and finally when they almost decided it wasn't going to it worked. Since I've been off chemo since May and only gone in to have my port flushed, it works like a charm every time! Last time it was 2 months in between.

I hope it goes well for you

plh4gail

idlehunters said:

BS answers about port?????
I went in Friday for my Vectibix but onc was not there so I did not get to speak with him about my port. I normally just stop by the lab and have them draw from my arm but I wanted to be sure my port would not draw so I requested the draw from the port. Charge nurse right away demanded to know why I was requesting this when "she knows her port don't draw". I told her my concerns about my port and man did she get sour on me! She informed me that the surgeon installed that port for one purpose ONLY...... To receive medication. The ability to draw blood out of that port is a "side benefit" ONLY!!! Not the purpose nor the intent of the port so they therefor do not consider the port to be failing or defective in any way if it does not draw. I told her I wanted that stuff put in there to clean it out and she said "that's ONLY if you have blood clots and you don't have any blood clots" oh really...how the hell do you know that? You got some kind of X-ray vision that you can see in there and see that? She said..well you have no pain....she never even asked me if I had any pain. A few times a week I get sharp pinching pains in that area but never gave it much thought till now. She said she would send a message to the onc but he would not address it until my Jan 31 appointment since it is not an emergency. She made me feel like I was being stupid for even thinking I had a port problem. Phil, you said your port don't draw all the time ....... Is your port checked for clots...ever??? If not, why not? Am I overreacting about this port not drawing because that is how they are making me feel. I just want to know all is ok. I have read that once a port stops drawing it is a prelude to a total malfunction ...not always but in a lot of cases. I just feel like if I do maintenance on my port and keep it fine tuned that I may prevent having to get another. IS that wrong???

Jennie

Jennie:
If the nurses are 100% sure that the chemo is flowing in properly, then you are ok. Oh, George said his first port failed on treatment #2 because the tip turned in to the vein and to correct it, had to replace it. Again, long as they are confident in administering the chemo then you should be ok. You may and I say "may" be forming a sheath at the tip. Sometimes you can have this sheath for months with no problems, it just covers the tip when they draw in and then releases itself. In George's case, it didn't release and could not be broken up. 99% of the time it can be broken up with TPN should it cause problems.

As far as the attitude, tell her to shove it where the sun doesn't shine. You have cancer, you have a recurrence, the last thing you need is attitude. If the attitude is real bad, send an e-mail to the hospital and I bet they experience an instant attitude adjustment. If they are having a bad day, tough, tell them they don't know what a bad day is.

Hugs - Tina

Lifeisajourney said:

Ok I think we need a port czar
I don't post much, but am an avid follower of all of you brave people. I had power port put in 1/09. Started folfox till May 09-seven in all till I had reaction. They put me in the hospital for 10 days and they drew blood there on the onc floor, used it for lots of things. No one has used it since for blood draw-never at the oncs office or other hospitals I have been at. Always told they needed special permission for blood draws.
After reading this, I wonder what the truth is. I go about every 6 weeks for flush. I am probably done with chemo, refused it after failed liver resection, but keep the port in case I end up in hospital and my veins are crap. One nurse tried to access it for a biopsy, she didn't get access, but oncs office have no trouble with flushes....so now after this discussion, I guess I am worried about if it is still good. Who should know???? The port seems fine, no rush to get it out, but if it is for chemo only, doubt if it will ever get used........Best to all of you, follow you all on your journeys.......Pat

Czore czar
Most nurses are not qualified to take a blood sample via a port,
central, or mid... and many do not know how, since it was not
within the scope of their job to do so. And usually a port
or other type of catheter needs a physician's order for medical
access (insurance purposes).

However, any nurse that is qualified to administer medications
via a port, PICC, etc, must also be qualified to maintain that
device. Part of that maintenance requires a proper flushing
of the tubing prior to the administering of medications through
that device.

The flushing process of all types of lines involves the flush, the
draw back to check for blood flow, and another flush.

The proper placement of the line is verified by the draw of
blood. If it does not provide a blood draw, the cause might
be clotting or sheathing of the tip, or the tip placement may
have moved.

The problem should be noted and resolved, since either
situation can impair the proper administering of medications
through that device.

It's almost a no-brainer.

Port-o-Cath

More about port maintenance

and:

d) If unable to obtain a blood return and the system flushes
without resistance, have patient change positions, raise arms,
cough, deep breathe, or perform the Valsalva maneuver. These
efforts may change the position of a catheter. If unsuccessful,
notify provider of inability to obtain a blood return. Verify
correct placement and integrity of the catheter with chest X-ray
and/or further studies. Never administer vesicant agents without
a blood return unless catheter placement and patency is verified.

I hope that helps?

Best health to all,

John

idlehunters said:

BS answers about port?????
I went in Friday for my Vectibix but onc was not there so I did not get to speak with him about my port. I normally just stop by the lab and have them draw from my arm but I wanted to be sure my port would not draw so I requested the draw from the port. Charge nurse right away demanded to know why I was requesting this when "she knows her port don't draw". I told her my concerns about my port and man did she get sour on me! She informed me that the surgeon installed that port for one purpose ONLY...... To receive medication. The ability to draw blood out of that port is a "side benefit" ONLY!!! Not the purpose nor the intent of the port so they therefor do not consider the port to be failing or defective in any way if it does not draw. I told her I wanted that stuff put in there to clean it out and she said "that's ONLY if you have blood clots and you don't have any blood clots" oh really...how the hell do you know that? You got some kind of X-ray vision that you can see in there and see that? She said..well you have no pain....she never even asked me if I had any pain. A few times a week I get sharp pinching pains in that area but never gave it much thought till now. She said she would send a message to the onc but he would not address it until my Jan 31 appointment since it is not an emergency. She made me feel like I was being stupid for even thinking I had a port problem. Phil, you said your port don't draw all the time ....... Is your port checked for clots...ever??? If not, why not? Am I overreacting about this port not drawing because that is how they are making me feel. I just want to know all is ok. I have read that once a port stops drawing it is a prelude to a total malfunction ...not always but in a lot of cases. I just feel like if I do maintenance on my port and keep it fine tuned that I may prevent having to get another. IS that wrong???

Jennie

Jennie
There is absolutely no reason why they can't put some of that TPA to see if it dissolves the clot.

There are 2 camps at my hospital - bloodraw WITH a port - and bloodraw WITHOUT.

The nurses are highly skilled at drawing blood through the port...it's just like getting pre-rigged for for infusion...quick, no fuss and no muss...and a heparin flush to go. Saves wear and tear on many of us whose veins have just had enough, unless the issue is forced.

And Jen....I was having sharp, stabbing pains in my port area too....I dismissed them as well....until they couldn't get a draw. That's when I knew that I was going to have to shake off the Propofol after the scope...and drive down to Infusion...and address the issue...and resolve it.

Pain? Port clogged? Hmmm? Potential for clots, darlin'...and the nurses in the scope ward and the trained nurses at my infusion center all agreed that clogged ports are not something to mess around with, especially if you have sharp pains in the area. You just never know.

You 'drano' them and if they don't unclog, you go to Intervential Radiology where they insert die to see if it is clogged...if it becomes faulty, you replace it. You don't leave it in and just say it is intended for chemo, no big deal.

The best that anyone can tell you if you got a blood clot and had issues from ingnoring the port situation is...WOOPS!

That advice and $4.50 will get you a Starbucks latte....but could wind you up in the hospital too...and haven't you had enough drama in your life this past year?

Your onc will buy off on the TPA...it took one quick call from the blood draw folks to my onc...and then PRESTO! You can't order through the drive-thru quicker than I got my issue cleared up....and it wasn't the first time....and probably won't be the last time.

I told you last time "Your people 'ain't' my people..." Better get on a plane and come get some good old-fashioned Texas health care, LOL! WE ARE the MD Anderson of North Texas - sayin' it loud - sayin' it proud:)

Clots do happen with these ports, so you're right, keeping them maintenanced properly, means a longer shelf life for the equipment and for us:)

Your request is absolutely reasonable and should be complied with...period - end of story.

I'm sure your onc will 'green light' this for you upon his return. If not, you'll just have to "Get Jenny With It."

LOL!

-Craig