power ports

Also use at least a 20 gauge power loc needle...rarely will use a 22 gauge..even on a regular port....b/c they do not draw as well.....I can not tell you how many x I got NO blood return or a sluggish one and de-accessed and re-accessed with a larger gauge and magically got a blood return...also a pre flush may help

About 1 year ago my facility switched from regular conventional port-a-caths to the power port. We have n-e-v-e-r had problems with any ports like we do with these! On average, we loose blood return on the power ports in the first two uses. We have used cathflo after fluro proves fibrin sheath. We may get the blood return back for a use or two, but then start all over again with the one way valve effect of fibrin sheaths. We flush by all the rules, using pulsatile technique, clamping during last 0.5ml of hep., etc. We have even left cathflo set in the port overnight, with little success. We have had more cracks and fractures in the last 6-8 months than we have had in the last 10 years! I feel fairly certain it is not due to change on technique or carelessness on the nurses part... why would we only have begun experiencing problems after initiating use of powerport?!?

Our surgeon refuses to place powerports now. We have gone back to the good old fashioned ports.

I don't see many power ports but I find the double ports quite useful for the patient needing chemo, IVF, ABX, transfusion. Or for the patient needing pain meds every 2-3 hours during an infusion!