Implantable Venous Port (chest or arm)

An implantable venous port is a special intravenous (IV) line that is completely inside the body. It consists of a port, which is a round piece of metal with a soft, silicone top the size of a quarter, and a catheter, which is the thin, flexible tube attached to the port.

Procedure

Using ultrasound and live X-ray (fluoroscopy) for guidance, an interventional radiologist will insert the catheter into an access vein, usually in the neck. (Sometimes veins in the arm or upper leg are used.) Most of the time, the port is on the upper chest, between the nipple and collarbone. Sometimes the port is on the inside of the arm, above the elbow, or on the upper front of the thigh.

Anesthesia

Patients receive IV sedation or general anesthesia.

Pain

After the procedure, some children may feel mild discomfort and/or experience mild bruising in the neck or chest area for several days.

Risks

This procedure is considered low-risk. However, potential complications include:

• bleeding
• infection
• injury to veins or other surrounding structures
• air in the veins (air embolism)
• abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• collapse of the lung (pneumothorax)
• bleeding into the chest (hemothorax)
• contrast reaction (allergic reaction to X-ray dye)

Bathing

Your child should not shower or take a bath for 48 hours. After the bandages are removed your child may shower, but should face away from the spray to keep water off the site. Do not submerge the site in water (bath or pool) until the Steri-Strips have fallen off. When the port is being used, the site must be kept clean and dry to prevent infection.

Restrictions

Your child will be able to resume most activities after five to seven days, including day care or school and sports or games such as biking or tennis.

Removing the port

Your child will be scheduled for a separate procedure using sedation or general anesthesia and a small insision will be made to remove the port. The same bandage aftercare recommendations are followed.