Port question

[molliemiko]

Hi.

I was wondering if it's abnormal for a port to bleed much after deaccessing? I've only discontinued 2 or 3 and don't remember any of them really bleeding. Today I had a pt. that came in to get a blood transfusion. She has a port as she gets chemo treatments, so she's used to frequent accessing and deaccessing. Anyways, after I deaccessed her port, there was some bleeding that wouldn't completely clot off after applying pressure for 5 minutes. She seemed upset that this happened, so I was wondering if I did something wrong?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

What was her platelet count?

[annmariern]

my first thought too. No they don't usually bleed at all. But low platelet count, common with chemo patients and that would make sense.

[Boomer MS, RN]

Is she on an anticoagulant?

[molliemiko]

I don't recall, but I know that they were on the lower side.

[molliemiko]

I'm not sure if she's on anticoagulation therapy. She was only sent to get a blood transfusion and left when it was done. I guess I was mostly concerned with her reaction to it and the fact that this was the first time it had happened.

[Boomer MS, RN]

I have seen chemo patients on anticoagulant therapy for various reasons, so that's why I asked. I seriously doubt you did anything wrong. These patients have so much to deal with and are anxious, as I'm sure you know. She is being closely monitored, I am sure.

[oncivrn]

Not usually but every once in awhile. Enough so that I always apply gauze when I deaccess

[summerly]

She likely had low platelets.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

At times, one may open up a small vessel on the way out when deaccessing... this can lead to bleeding. But as others have asked, what did her labs look like, and was she on any medication which could predispose her to bleeding?