Port care question

[AtlantaRN, RN]

I have a hospice patient that has a port, isn't accessed. In fact, when she was in the hospital 1 month ago, they were doing peripheral sticks on her, it wasn't accessed then either.

She called the hospice today demanding someone access it so it can be

flushed.

I'm not at work, so I can't ask one of the picc nurses, etc.

Anyone have any thought?

Thanks

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Most port should be accessed at least monthly and flushed with heparin to keep the port patent and accessable. I dont really understand if she was in the hospital why they werent using the port unless it was already unusable.

The doctor should be called for orders regarding flushing and add that to the hospice routine.

[MomNRN, BSN, RN]

We had this same discussion today. I checked our policies and procedures and the procedure to access is in the book. There is absolutely no reason to do peripherals if they have a patent port site. That is the reason it was placed.

[Binkey, BSN]

I too wonder why they weren't accessing the Port in the hospital, and then I'd wonder why she didn't demand it be done in that setting. Another question is "how long has it been since it had been flushed?" My concern is that if it has been a while, when it is finally flushed, what type and how much bacteria are we flushing into the vascular system that has sheared off of the biofilm? If it is not patent, then it should be removed ASAP to prevent unnecessary bacterial collection/contamination from the ever growing fibrin accumulation which could also lead to thrombus formation.

DD

I have a hospice patient that has a port, isn't accessed. In fact, when she was in the hospital 1 month ago, they were doing peripheral sticks on her, it wasn't accessed then either.

She called the hospice today demanding someone access it so it can be

flushed.

I'm not at work, so I can't ask one of the picc nurses, etc.

Anyone have any thought?

Thanks