Port Question.............

Can anyone tell me how long port access can be maintained in a pt who is getting Zofran prn (usually q4/6) before being changed out and how often it should be heparinised. Thank you

The non-coring needle in the port can dwell for 7 days, however, if it gets partially pulled out, or becomes problematic it should be changed before that 7 days is up. So, ideally orders should read, "Change non-coring needle in port access q week and prn". When therapy is done, then the orders should change to "reaccess implanted port every month and flush with NSS followed by Heparin flush, 100 units/ml then deaccess." I'd encourage you to set a weeks time frame in that order for monthly flushing ie... "RN to reaccess port the last week of every month" that way you aren't pinpointing a particular day when the nurse who does the accessing may be off. Policies for flushing in the case you described are NSS before and after the Zofran and finish with Heparin flush. When the port is accessed, flushes should be done at least every 24 hours with saline and heparin. Those amounts to flush with should be delineated by the organization/facility in which you are employed. The only time I wouldn't use Heparin flush in an implanted port is when it was a Groshong port. The valved feature on this port allows me to maintain it with saline only.

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