Just What Is A Porta-Cath ?

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My partner has a problem with her vein's becoming very hard to access when she " go's low ", She is a diabetic and has a lot of trouble maintaining good blood suger levels. So she has been advised that a porta-cath would be a good idea. Not knowing much about them I thought I would ask the people here if they could supply us with some information about them.

What are they, what do they look like, the best way to look after them, the risk's etc ...

well thanks in advance.

Themis

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Honestly, the best information for this would come from her doctor.

A little info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port-a-Cath

Here's a picture:

port.jpg

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Maybe there is a semantics thing going on, but my understanding is a Porta-cath is external where a Medi-Port is the internal device pictured. However, the best advice comes from her physician.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

What we call a Port-a-cath at work is all internal. Maxids and Groshongs are external.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay Marie - got it. We refer to Porta-Caths as the external dialysis caths (you know the big lines they place prior to a graft). Thanks.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Porta-cath is a brand name, if i'm not mistaken, though.

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The pictures above are of port-a-caths but they are placed under the skin usually on left side of chest or there are similar passport type catheters placed in the back of the arms. They arent Groshong PICCS or external dialysis caths - - to use a Port-a-cath, it has to be accessed with a huber type needle and the needle device is taped down (after it is pushed through the skin into the diaphragm). The nice thing about a port-a-cath is that when it isnt in use or your partner isnt in the hospital, there is no external device - you can only feel a small diaphragm under the skin. Less risk for infections than external PICCS.

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My 2 y/0 ESRD daughter is having one placed soon. How much of a risk is there of sepsis -- in your experience.

I know that our Nephrologist is the best source, but they tend to be VERY glass half full types.

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