portacath use

[Acouda]

When accessing a double lumen portacath for hanging a bag of normal saline for a procedure, which tube should I use- the red or the blue. What is the difference?

[pricklypear]

It sounds like you are talking about a dialysis catheter - which is DIFFERENT than a port-a cath.

1. In the places I have worked, you need a specific order to be able to access a dialysis catheter - and you MUST aspirate before using as they may contain as much as 2000 units of heparin per lumen.

2. I would say the venous (blue) port since this is the "return" port.