Implantable ports

An implantable port is also known as a portacath or subcutaneous port. A thin tube called a catheter is attached to a small reservoir called a port. It can be used to give chemotherapy or medicine into a vein, or to take blood samples. 

The catheter is a thin, soft, flexible tube. It is usually put in under the skin of the chest or sometimes in the arm. One end of the tube goes into a large vein just above the heart. The other end connects to the port.

The port is a small disc that goes under the skin on the upper chest or arm. You will be able to see and feel a small bump on the skin where the port is.

A doctor called a radiologist or a specialist nurse will put your port in at the hospital. It is usually done in the operating theatre, or an area called the vascular radiology unit. You will usually have a local anaesthetic to numb the area. A general anaesthetic is sometimes used.

You will usually be able to go home on the same day. You may want to discuss the position of the port with your doctor before it is put in.

The doctor or nurse will put a small needle into a vein in the arm or hand. They will give you medicine to help you relax. Your nurse or doctor will then inject a local anaesthetic into your skin to numb a few small areas on your chest and neck. You might feel some pressure on your chest or arm during the procedure, but you should not feel any pain.

The doctor or nurse will make 2 small cuts in the skin. These cuts may be called incisions. The first is made to create a pocket under the skin for the port. It will be about 3 to 4cm long. There will be a smaller incision above this. This is where they will put the catheter into the vein. This incision is usually less than 2cm long.

If the port is being put into a vein in the chest, the incisions are made on the upper chest. If the port is being put into a vein in the arm, they will be on the inner side of the arm.

The doctor or nurse will put the port under the skin. They then tunnel the catheter attached to the port under the skin to the smaller incision. Here, it will be put into a vein in the chest. They will then stitch up the incisions. You will have a chest x-ray to make sure the port is in the right place.

You may have a small dressing to cover the wounds for a few days. The nurses will teach you how to look after it. Sometimes a skin glue is used instead.

You may feel a bit sore and bruised for a few days after the port is put in. You can ask your doctor or nurse which painkillers you should take to help with this.

Once the port has been put in, and for a few days after, check around the wounds for any:

• redness
• swelling
• bleeding
• bruising
• pain
• heat.

Tell your hospital doctor straight away if you have any of these. You could have an infection which may need to be treated.

If the stitches are not dissolvable, they will be removed after about 7 to 10 days.

After each treatment, a small amount of fluid is flushed into the catheter, so it does not get blocked. The port will need to be flushed every 4 to 6 weeks if it is not being used regularly.

The nurses at the hospital can teach you how to do this. They can also teach a partner, family member or friend. Or a district nurse can do it for you at home.

Your port will not need any other care.

When you do not need the port any more, it will be taken out. A doctor or specialise nurse will do this for you. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area, or sometimes a general anaesthetic is used.

The doctor or nurse will clean the skin over the site of your port with antiseptic. They will make a small incision over the site and remove the port and the catheter. They will gently pull the catheter out of the vein. The wound is then stitched and covered with a small dressing.

You may feel a bit sore and bruised after your port is removed. You can ask your doctor or nurse which painkillers you should take to help with this.

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