Port a Cath for IV fluids

[kaybrn]

I am having my bilateral mastectomy in 11 days and I wondered if they would be able to use my port a cath for IV access while I am in the hospital. I have had my power port since March. I am not asking for medical advice. I just want to know if anyone has ever seen a port a cath used and the patient not be stuck again with a peripheral IV. I hate needles (funny for a nurse isn't it). I want to prepare myself for an IV stick if it is coming.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Good gravy, what's the point of having a port if you don't use the heck out of it?

That's what our IV team is now preaching. But I'm tellin ya, there used to be alot of resistance to anyone other than the Oncology team using it. Patients were told to NEVER let anyone else use their port.

It is truly unfair to the patient to ignore the port, when they likely have already undergone tons of peripheral sticks and have horrendous veins. We now have a volunteer group of RN's on all shifts who participated in an inservice and will access the ports of any patient who requests it. Anesthesia is still nervous, though:eek:

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

If you have a port, we wouldn't consider using anything else for a patient's stay. Every needlestick is a potential portal of entry for infection. There is absolutely no reason not to use it.....I would stick to my guns about not being stuck because someone is "afraid" to access it if you encounter this problem at the facility. Planning ahead is a good idea-let them know what you expect and they will do it. A patient should never have to settle.

M

[kaybrn]

Thanks for all the info. It sounds like I need to talk to my surgeon ahead of time and make sure there is an order to use my port.