Port insertion

Kathryn_in_MN · September 2009

I just had my post-op with the surgeon, and we scheduled the port insertion. He said most of his colleagues prefer to go under the collarbone and into a big vein in the chest. He prefers to go up over the collarbone and into a vein in the neck. The reason is less problems - including dropping the risk of puncturing the lung that going to the lower vein has. The negative is it is a little harder to do, and sometimes the catheter can show a little in the neck vein.

For those of you with ports now or that had them before, which way did yours go? Any comments on one way or the other being a big difference?

This same surgeon did my surgery different than the other docs in his practice do. I like his way better. I have one small incision down low (to blow the gasses in for laproscopic surgery) and he put it right in with an existing scar from previous major surgery. I have two small incisions on my right side. And the bigger incision runs sideways, similar to an appendectomy scar on the left side (where they took out the colon). The other doctors make an up and down incision instead. It is easier for the surgeon this way, but a harder recovery for the patient.

Based on my Dr doing what was best for me, even though it meant a little longer surgery time, and a little harder for him, I'm thinking that his doing the port a little differently is really for my benefit too. Thoughts?

Buzzard · September 2009

Is the trust there ?
If you trust this Dr to do your work then I see no problem at all with it. He is just different in his approach. I would ask why he prefers to be different but if you trust him I'd say go for it. Its all the same as far as functionality. It may be his "Signature"....As long as they are top notch them they can do whatever they have to to me...You have to trust in them...

dmdwins · September 2009

Buzzard said:
Is the trust there ?
If you trust this Dr to do your work then I see no problem at all with it. He is just different in his approach. I would ask why he prefers to be different but if you trust him I'd say go for it. Its all the same as far as functionality. It may be his "Signature"....As long as they are top notch them they can do whatever they have to to me...You have to trust in them...

Port in Chest
Interesting... I've not heard of putting the port in the neck vein. Doesn't mean it's not a good option though.

I had a Power Port in the chest and had no problems what so ever. It was very easy to hide under clothing. Good luck with your decision. Like Buzzard said- just make sure he's a top notch surgeon.

Smiles,
Dawn

Annabelle41415 · September 2009

Yup
Yup I can see my tube going up into the neck area. My port does stick out because it is on top of the collar bone and I don't have any fat up there so it does protrude. I've never had any problems with my Power Port. My oncology nurses said they loved the ones like mine because it makes for easier access and they have very little problems with it. Make sure that your oncologist prescribes some Lidocaine for you. It is a cream you put on under gauze about 45 minutes to an hour before infusion to numb the area. It works wonders.

Kim

Kathryn_in_MN · September 2009

Thanks for the feedback -
Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated!

mk1117 · September 2009

Port
My port was put in the way the "regular" way, under the collar bone. I didn't have any issues with it, except that it wiggled when the chemo nurses tried to get the needle in. We ended up going back to the method of getting bloodwork from the veins in my arm, since it was hard to get blood samples out through the port. I think whichever strategy you & your doctor agree upon should be fine. I've never seen one that comes up into the neck. As someone else posted, you can hide the port under clothes more easily, but I think it's a matter of personal preference.

Hope whatever your decision is goes well.

Kathy

Kathryn_in_MN · September 2009

The port still goes in the
The port still goes in the chest - the same as always. It is just a difference of the catheter going into a different vein. Instead of going under the collarbone and into a vein very close to the lungs (with a 1% chance of lung puncture), it goes over the collarbone and into a neck vein.

I just read heard from someone another board (someone with almost the same DX and therapy plan as mine). She had surgery 2 weeks before me, but hasn't started treatment yet because when they put the port in, she did have her lung punctured and it collapsed. Lucky her to get to be that 1%.

Now I'm going to go with the surgeon's suggestion. I don't care if it might be slightly more visable (for some people you can see the catheter in the neck a little). It sounds much safer.

Shayenne · September 2009

Kathryn_in_MN said:
The port still goes in the
The port still goes in the chest - the same as always. It is just a difference of the catheter going into a different vein. Instead of going under the collarbone and into a vein very close to the lungs (with a 1% chance of lung puncture), it goes over the collarbone and into a neck vein.

I just read heard from someone another board (someone with almost the same DX and therapy plan as mine). She had surgery 2 weeks before me, but hasn't started treatment yet because when they put the port in, she did have her lung punctured and it collapsed. Lucky her to get to be that 1%.

Now I'm going to go with the surgeon's suggestion. I don't care if it might be slightly more visable (for some people you can see the catheter in the neck a little). It sounds much safer.

I Have That....
My port is under the collar on my left side, with that little tube running up my neck, and really, you don't feel it, and it the swelling did go down where I can barely see it, so it's not a wrong way of doing it, it works, and that's good for me, I don't even feel it there.

It may be a new way that they're just doing it now.

Port insertion

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