Port flushing question

2»

Comments

  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #22
    HollyID said:

    Thanks Gracie...
    You make me feel better. I'm also a nurse and have never heard of power ports, small ports, or a regular port. My mom/babies are generally healthy when I get them as patients. :)

    I've taken care of patients with many kinds of central lines such as multi-med lines (triple lumen port that goes in the subclavien) port-a-caths and PICC lines. I've never had to access a port-a-cath, but know the logistics of it. I've heard of groshongs (never messed with them) and others but these I've never heard of. I think this might be a detriment of living and working in a small town? :o)

    Holly

    I'll tell ya
    The power port I have is one of the newest ports, it's so new that when I went to a local hospital during an infection, the nurses there had NO idea how to access it, they then found a nurse from a different floor who did know how, and she actually came down to the floor, to access me, right in front of those other nurses and student nurses, so I was pretty much being a "model" for them on her teaching them how to access a power port lol...

    Don't feel like you're in the dark, there's alot of nurses out there just learning their ways as well on the job, right there and then :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • ann2008
    ann2008 Member Posts: 118
    #23
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Ports
    I do know the power port can tolerate getting the contrast for a CT scan. It has to go in pretty fast and forceful. The dual port has two separate ports that can get fluids or two meds at the same time. The regular port is/was round with access in center. Mine is just a small regular port and I want someone who has accessed one before to do mine. When they miss it hurts getting the second stick. Anyway mine is supposed to stay in for 2 years and if it can I will let it because it was major pain maneuvering(sp?) that thing under my collar bone. But since it healed it has not given me any problems. I forget it is there. The ports may not always be able to draw blood but may be able to put fluids in. If you ever have to receive blood or fluids or just be in the hospital for something not related to cancer and need access for fluids. As a critical care nurse we are always happy to have access no matter what kind. Gracie maybe as it heals it will be less painful. I think maybe the older ones are larger. Maybe I have helped answer some questions, but phillieg I am curious about the HAI?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #24
    ann2008 said:

    Ports
    I do know the power port can tolerate getting the contrast for a CT scan. It has to go in pretty fast and forceful. The dual port has two separate ports that can get fluids or two meds at the same time. The regular port is/was round with access in center. Mine is just a small regular port and I want someone who has accessed one before to do mine. When they miss it hurts getting the second stick. Anyway mine is supposed to stay in for 2 years and if it can I will let it because it was major pain maneuvering(sp?) that thing under my collar bone. But since it healed it has not given me any problems. I forget it is there. The ports may not always be able to draw blood but may be able to put fluids in. If you ever have to receive blood or fluids or just be in the hospital for something not related to cancer and need access for fluids. As a critical care nurse we are always happy to have access no matter what kind. Gracie maybe as it heals it will be less painful. I think maybe the older ones are larger. Maybe I have helped answer some questions, but phillieg I am curious about the HAI?

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #25
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    OH! LOL!
    I forgot to tell you how they work. What mine is, is a little round drum looking appliance that compared to the first one I had, which was a mediport, a single barrel, (the power port is a double barrel one), works better, since not only can it be used to draw blood, give medicines and be used for contrast, the single barrel could only be used to draw blood or administer medicines, one at a time. I'll type out what it says here on my PowerPort Information Guide:

    Your PowerPort implanted port allows clinicians to easily deliver medications or fluids or withdraw blood samples without having to repeatedly stick your peripheral nerves directly with a needle. This makes it more comfortable for YOU. Because the PowerPort Implanted Port places medications into the large central veins instead of the small peripheral veins, the medications mix more thoroughly in the blood, diluting them so they are less harmful to your vascular system.

    The PowerPort Implanted Port is used with the PowerLoc Safety Infusion Set, which enables fluids called contrast agents to be power-injected (delivered at a high rate) into your bloodstream, as a result, tissues in your body show up more clearly., making it easier for your doctors to monitor the status of your condition. Power-injected CECT scans are safe, non-invasive procedures that provide important information for disease dx and tx.

    When I was first dx'd, I had a single barrel mediport, which could only be used to withdraw blood, and distribute chemo. It was just a single-line port. Now, with this PowerPort, it has 2 barrels, where they can give fluids, and even take blood at the same time :) They were even able to give me a blood transfusion while giving me chemo at the same time as well, having 2 lines coming out of my port (which is implanted in my left collarbone area).

    It just makes things easier with less needle pricks in the hands and arms, and getting the meds and blood going instead of waiting for one to finish, it's pretty handy! I hope this helped a bit! :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #26
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Gracie...
    I too was an LPN for 13 years and there is no such thing as "JUST" an LPN. We are ALL members of a health care team. I've been doing this job long enough to know that LPNs are sometimes more in tune with care than RNs. I know I was. It's kind of a brainwashing job they do on us to become RNs. :o)

    RNs are no smarter than LPNs -- we're just trained differently. I work with one LPN on my floor and I do go to her for advice once in a while. She's been there a lot longer than I have and knows ALL the ropes. Maybe that's what made RN school so easy. Listening, watching and reading. In Idaho, LPNs can access central lines, but only according to facility policy. That's why they utilized us so much in ER, ICU and other high care areas.

    I have to say though, when I get a diabetic mother or a mom with some weird disease I'm not familiar with, they get to educate me. They know their disease better than I do and they know what works for them and what doesn't. I just want to help and get them what they need. Books might give me a great overview, but, they don't know it all. Neither does the internet. :o)

    This is a great resource here and I wish I would have found it in November, before my surgery and after my dx. :o)

    Actually, I think this is why we're all here. :o) I'm just trying to learn more about my illness. Freakin' beast that it is!
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #27
    Shayenne said:

    OH! LOL!
    I forgot to tell you how they work. What mine is, is a little round drum looking appliance that compared to the first one I had, which was a mediport, a single barrel, (the power port is a double barrel one), works better, since not only can it be used to draw blood, give medicines and be used for contrast, the single barrel could only be used to draw blood or administer medicines, one at a time. I'll type out what it says here on my PowerPort Information Guide:

    Your PowerPort implanted port allows clinicians to easily deliver medications or fluids or withdraw blood samples without having to repeatedly stick your peripheral nerves directly with a needle. This makes it more comfortable for YOU. Because the PowerPort Implanted Port places medications into the large central veins instead of the small peripheral veins, the medications mix more thoroughly in the blood, diluting them so they are less harmful to your vascular system.

    The PowerPort Implanted Port is used with the PowerLoc Safety Infusion Set, which enables fluids called contrast agents to be power-injected (delivered at a high rate) into your bloodstream, as a result, tissues in your body show up more clearly., making it easier for your doctors to monitor the status of your condition. Power-injected CECT scans are safe, non-invasive procedures that provide important information for disease dx and tx.

    When I was first dx'd, I had a single barrel mediport, which could only be used to withdraw blood, and distribute chemo. It was just a single-line port. Now, with this PowerPort, it has 2 barrels, where they can give fluids, and even take blood at the same time :) They were even able to give me a blood transfusion while giving me chemo at the same time as well, having 2 lines coming out of my port (which is implanted in my left collarbone area).

    It just makes things easier with less needle pricks in the hands and arms, and getting the meds and blood going instead of waiting for one to finish, it's pretty handy! I hope this helped a bit! :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    It's helps immensely!!
    Thanks for the info! One more question for the onc. :)
  • lifeb4now
    lifeb4now Member Posts: 6
    #28
    port questions flush or remove?
    there are differnet types of ports,thus not a standard for flushing/maintainence.Power port[as my husband has] ACS states monthly; but the 'tunneled' ports are more often,since part is inside and outside[which is kinda older design]the power port is the way to go; no external anything:)and there seems confusion over types of 'internal ports' i.e. power port/smart port are brands of same type,and YES they can access blood from this type,feeds into main vein and stops just short of the heart[plenty of blood there} And they are best left IN after chemo,even if NED,because your arent termed 'cancer-free' till you reach your 5 year mark.and yes many still have them then.While i disagree that you show have it taken out when your done with chemo,I know from our own experience that we couldnt 'start' chemo till it was placed,and it was a 20,000.00 bill.They put these in AND out outpatient surgery.
    Unfortunately Esophageal Cancer-stg 3[gastric junction]is hard to beat tends to come back within 2 years in 80% of patients.MY husband was 46[median age is 62]
    Hubbys biggest fear is that it never left,because we learned that even though it didnt show up on CT scan or intial biospy[ 0 of 24 ]lympnodes removed;3 weeks after surgery 5 tested positve MICROSCOPICALLY.SO husbands reasoning if it was microscopic there it could be microscopic ANYWHERE,since it cant be seen on any scans.So he ordered 6 more weeks of chemo afterwards
    Since were were totally unprepared for post surgery chemo,it was a good thing it was still there.The only issue ever was the type of bandage they used; rectangular clear with adhesive border,wouldnt stay on between 7 day appts,sticky and had to cover over for showers, the second goround after surgery the used gauze squares covering the 'butterfly' then put on clear total adhesive second skin,worked beautifully!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #29
    lifeb4now said:

    port questions flush or remove?
    there are differnet types of ports,thus not a standard for flushing/maintainence.Power port[as my husband has] ACS states monthly; but the 'tunneled' ports are more often,since part is inside and outside[which is kinda older design]the power port is the way to go; no external anything:)and there seems confusion over types of 'internal ports' i.e. power port/smart port are brands of same type,and YES they can access blood from this type,feeds into main vein and stops just short of the heart[plenty of blood there} And they are best left IN after chemo,even if NED,because your arent termed 'cancer-free' till you reach your 5 year mark.and yes many still have them then.While i disagree that you show have it taken out when your done with chemo,I know from our own experience that we couldnt 'start' chemo till it was placed,and it was a 20,000.00 bill.They put these in AND out outpatient surgery.
    Unfortunately Esophageal Cancer-stg 3[gastric junction]is hard to beat tends to come back within 2 years in 80% of patients.MY husband was 46[median age is 62]
    Hubbys biggest fear is that it never left,because we learned that even though it didnt show up on CT scan or intial biospy[ 0 of 24 ]lympnodes removed;3 weeks after surgery 5 tested positve MICROSCOPICALLY.SO husbands reasoning if it was microscopic there it could be microscopic ANYWHERE,since it cant be seen on any scans.So he ordered 6 more weeks of chemo afterwards
    Since were were totally unprepared for post surgery chemo,it was a good thing it was still there.The only issue ever was the type of bandage they used; rectangular clear with adhesive border,wouldnt stay on between 7 day appts,sticky and had to cover over for showers, the second goround after surgery the used gauze squares covering the 'butterfly' then put on clear total adhesive second skin,worked beautifully!

    I'm reposting this as a new post....
    This post originated last year.....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • jpalm
    jpalm Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2017 #30
    Port Flushing and done with chemo

    I have to go monthly for Port Flushing. 

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #31
    jpalm

    Did you realize that you were posting to a 8year old post???

  • vrsecond
    vrsecond Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2020 #32
    Port flush

    Hi. I was advised every 6 weeks.  Each doctor has their own protocol so you need to go by what they tell you.  My doctor said it won't hurt anything if i go to 7 or 8 weeks but no longer than that. 

Discussion Boards