[pengpeng10]

I have a friend who's mother has breast cancer that has spread to her liver. She had a portacath placed today. My friend is concerned because they placed the portacath on the side where her mother had her mastectomy (the right side). I was wondering if there is any reasoning behind which side they place the portacath...is it just random?
Thank you!
Pengpeng10

[das]

Originally Posted by pengpeng10

I have a friend who's mother has breast cancer that has spread to her liver. She had a portacath placed today. My friend is concerned because they placed the portacath on the side where her mother had her mastectomy (the right side). I was wondering if there is any reasoning behind which side they place the portacath...is it just random?
Thank you!
Pengpeng10

Right side is a more direct route for the threading of the catheter according to our radiologist. Most of the time it is threaded through the internal juglular to the subclavian vein to the superior vena cava.

It is very different than putting in a peripheral line in a mastectomy side. With a peripheral IV you are placing a tourniquet to stop blood flow and allows for lymphedema to occur.