Power Ports

[IlovenursingRN]

I had a patient who had a CT with contrast ordered. She had a port (round) she said she had had a CT a couple of weeks ago in another city and the ER nurse accessed the port with a power port huber needle and they used it with the power injector. I told her I believed her but that our protocol is that if a patient has a power port we have to have an ID card confirming it is a power port and it's safe for a power injector and x-ray confirmation of the triangular port. I wouldn't access the port and the patient refused a peripheral IV so she got the CT with oral contrast only. Do any of you use a traditional port with a power port huber needle?

[PAERRN20]

I personally have not seen many people with the triangular ports. The ones I have seen seem to be more difficult to access than the traditional, round ones. And to answer your question- we only have the plain 19g huber needles. We don't have the power port kind.

[FlyingScot, RN]

Another company has now marketed a CT compatible port (aka Power Port) but it actually IS round and has no identifiers like the three palpable bumps that we are used to. The only way we know these can be used in CT is if the patient remembers to bring their card. These ports are called "Smart Ports" but frankly I think they are kind of dumb since they are virtually identical to regular ports. But to answer your question absolutely no we do not access a regular port with a power needle and call that acceptable. The port would rupture under pressure of the power injector and kill the patient.

[Larry77, RN]

Our facility is ONLY placing Power Ports now and the only access devices we carry are the Power Port brand...so if they have a standard port we have to place a peripheral line and let CT know. I don't find the triangle ports any harder to access, actually I find them easier because they are easier to stabilize.

[rbyrdrn]

Another company has now marketed a CT compatible port (aka Power Port) but it actually IS round and has no identifiers like the three palpable bumps that we are used to. The only way we know these can be used in CT is if the patient remembers to bring their card. These ports are called "Smart Ports" but frankly I think they are kind of dumb since they are virtually identical to regular ports. But to answer your question absolutely no we do not access a regular port with a power needle and call that acceptable. The port would rupture under pressure of the power injector and kill the patient.

Our Huber needles have recently been changed out to Power Loc Infusion sets, c various gauge & lengths. However, while our implanted ports will be accessed c this device, it does not mean that the port is a PowerPort, and c/out that card, or the identifiable large raised triangular surface we can recognize, I would not infuse CT contrast. On another note, I don't know if any of you come across the old Mid line PICC, we have a few chemo MDs still using these, our facility recently came out c a P&P stating Do Not Use and I believe INS is asking us not to use these.

[JStyles1]

no, no cross-brand use of needles. if it is not a power port then the power port needle isnt used. a standard port-a-cath access needle is used

[rbyrdrn]

UhOh....not the case at my facility and my educator takes pride in our infusion education. I will have to do some homework and a powwow c my educator.

[rbyrdrn]

no, no cross-brand use of needles. if it is not a power port then the power port needle isnt used. a standard port-a-cath access needle is used

All-right, had my powwow with our educator and infusion. The Power Loc Safety Infusion set is the brand/style of Huber needles that we use, and implanted ports may be accessed using these devices. However, we only place the sticker (a label on the outside of the package) on the extension set if it is a Power Port. I did not make this clear in my earlier post. The label/sticker indicates that this is a confirmed Power Port.