Main Menu
Management
ACCESSING YOUR IMPLANTED ACCESS PORT
ACCESSING YOUR IMPLANTED ACCESS PORTTRANSCRIPT (page 1 of 2)Whether you are receiving care in the hospital, as an out-patient, from a home carecompany, or are caring for a loved one; only a trained member of your healthcareteam will access a port.When caring for a port at home, please talk to your healthcare provider about whatyou and your family members will need to do in order to keep your port working welland complication-free.Because the port is under your skin, in order to access, or use your port, a specialneedle called a non-coring needle (sometimes called a Huber needle or Gripperneedle) will be inserted through your skin and into the rubber top of the port. Thistype of needle is attached to a tube with an injection cap at one end and a clamp in themiddle.These needles are specially designed so that they don’t cause damage to your port.Most are bent at a 90-degree angle to allow them to be secured during times whenyour port is being accessed. Never use any other type of needle with your implantedport.The first few times your port is accessed, your healthcare provider may recommendyou use a numbing medicine to reduce any pain. As you use your port more often, thepain will decrease.“Are you ready for your next treatment?”When caring for your port, always use an area that is clean and germ-free to preventinfection. The area must be sterile.Anybody coming into contact with the port must wash their hands thoroughly usingsoap and warm water, or an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Gloves and a mask arerecommended to increase your protection against infection.20% gradient meshIf your needle is not already in for your treatment, your healthcare provider will insertthe non-coring needle. First, your healthcare provider will clean the skin over healthclipstheport to prevent infection. Allow the area to dry. Do not fan or blow the area to speedhealthclipsdrying; this will only increase your risk for infection.healthclips(Continued on nextpage)healthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_qc_10008_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient meshACCESSING YOUR IMPLANTED ACCESS PORTTRANSCRIPT (page 2 of 2)To insert the needle, your healthcare provider will hold the edges of the port with onehand and use the other hand to push the needle into the center of the port. It needs togo all the way to the back wall of the port. It may make a scratchy sound when it hitsthe hard surface at the back of your port.Now, your healthcare provider will open the clamp and slowly pull back on thesyringe. If blood flows back into the tubing, the needle is in the right place. If not, itwill need to be repositioned.Each time your port is accessed, it will need to be flushed. If you need medication itwill be given at this time, and then it will be flushed again.At the end of your treatment session your needle can be removed. Or, if your portneeds to be accessed often, you may be able to leave your port needle in for up to 7days, if your healthcare provider tells you to.If it is left in, make sure it is covered with a sterile dressing at all times. Usually it iscovered with a clear dressing that must be changed every 7 days. If you are allergicto the clear dressing, your healthcare provider may cover your needle with a gauzedressing which must be changed every 48 hours to prevent infection.No matter what dressing is used, remember, your needle needs to be changed every 7days to prevent infection.If you are being treated at home, talk to your healthcare provider, pharmacist orgarbage collection company about the correct way to dispose of syringes, tubing andneedles.And if you have any questions about caring for your port, talk to your healthcareproviders. They are there to help.“Well, I think it looks really good. It’s not hurting you?”“No, not at all. And it’s not red or anything like that.”20% gradient meshhealthclipshealthclips“No.”healthclipshealthclips4% gradient meshThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, orsuitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.hc_qc_10008_98_en_t00002.pdf healthclips© Milner-Fenwick, Inc.5% gradient mesh
Because every beat matters, our cardiac doctors are dedicated to providing care like no other can.
Browse heart doctors
Learn how to properly care for your implanted port to keep it infection free and in good working order to keep it in use for several weeks to months.
Learn how your implanted access port will be properly removed by your healthcare provider.
Watch how your implanted access port will be flushed to clean it on the inside in order to prevent infection and clotting.
Watch how regularly and safely cleaning your PICC line helps to keep your device working properly and prevent infection.
