vascular acCess (port-A-Cath)

Port-A-Cath

A port-a-cath provides easy and reliable access to your veins. It is commonly used for administration of chemotherapy but also for patients needing long-term antibiotics or recurrent blood transfusions.

It consists of a titanium chamber (port) attached to a soft silicone tube (catheter). The entire device is placed under the skin. The port is accessed with a special needle through the skin.

The portacath insertion is placed into a pocket underneath the skin just below the collar bone.
Nothing is visible externally apart from a small bump on the front of your chest where the port sits.

The port can be left in place for months and sometimes years. Your oncologist will decide if a port-a-cath is suitable for you and how long it needs to remain in place.Portacath Insertion

Port-A-Cath

A port-a-cath provides easy and reliable access to your veins. It is commonly used for administration of chemotherapy but also for patients needing long-term antibiotics or recurrent blood transfusions.

It consists of a titanium chamber (port) attached to a soft silicone tube (catheter). The entire device is placed under the skin. The port is accessed with a special needle through the skin.

The port is placed into a pocket underneath the skin just below the collar bone. The catheter is guided under the skin over the collar bone into a vein in the neck with the tip placed in a large vein just above your heart.

Nothing is visible externally apart from a small bump on the front of your chest where the port sits.

The port can be left in place for months and sometimes years. Your oncologist will decide if a port-a-cath is suitable for you and how long it needs to remain in place.

Vascular Access Procedures

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EXAMPLES OF THIS PROCEDURES

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Benefits of Port-a-Cath

Intravenous treatments, Blood samples and contrast for CT scans can be given via the Port.
Once the wound has healed, you can shower/ bathe and swim without the risk of infection.

Procedure

The procedure is performed in our operating theatre using ultrasound and x-rays under local anaesthetic and conscious sedation.

A small cannula is placed in a vein in the back of your hand. Antibiotics and sedation medications are administered via this.

The skin over the neck and upper chest are cleaned and draped to keep everything sterile.

Local anaesthetic is then applied to these areas. You will still be able to feel pressure but no sharp sensations.

A 5 mm incision is made at the base of the neck, and a needle and wire are placed into the vein using ultrasound. A 4 cm incision is then made just below the collarbone, and a pocket forms under the skin.

The port is placed in the pocket. The catheter is then tunnelled under the skin from the pocket to the neck incision, cut to an appropriate length and inserted via the vein in the neck. The tip sits just in a big vein just above your heart.

The position is checked with x-rays.

The chest incision is closed with dissolvable sutures and surgical glue. The neck incision is closed with surgical glue. Dressings are then applied.

If your chemotherapy is due to start in the next couple of days a needle will be left in the port, when requested by the oncology team.

What to expect after

The area around the port will feel mildly tender and swollen for a few days once the local anaesthetic wears off. We recommend taking regular panadol, which works well for this.

Our nursing team will provide you with instructions for what you can and can’t do over the next couple weeks until the wound heals.

Risks Associated with Procedure

As with any procedure, there are risks and benefits, these will be discussed with you prior to the procedure by your Interventional Radiologist, before obtaining your consent to proceed.

Post-operative instructions will be given to you by our nursing team.

Contact Lumina or your oncology nurse if you have any concerns.