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Does anyone have a portacath?

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cherieann:
I use the emla cream only when my site is tender.  :mad
I must say that I'm now much happier with my port as I am the main accessor and only two nurses administer it when there are problems. It has been 20 years since I got my first port and I have less problems with it now. Some of my issues with the port was new nurses learning how to access the port. They were pretty hard on my ribcage when it came time to take out the needle and I didn't like some of their techniques. I was always scare of getting infections.
I have been doing my own port now for 14 years and have only had two infections and both caused by pnemonia so as long as I keep on top of my health issues and access by protocol, I shouldn't have any problems. :biggrin
I do love my port though, it's much better than being pricked in the veins at each transfusion.

AstonDialo:
Yeah, I was always reluctant in letting a nurse without any experience to needle my port, or de-needling my port.
If the sterile procedure is followed in needling a port, then the risk of getting an infection is lowered.
I remember going to the ER for one of my kidney stone episodes, and they wanted to get some bloods taken.
I told the Dr (must've been a med student) that I had a port for access.
He said, oh, ok cool.
He came back with a 19G needle and a 20mL syringe, and some large alcohol swabs.
I said you idiot, you needle my port with that, and you'll never hear the end of this.
I said, to access my port, it's gotta be done in a sterile procedure.

Hey Cherieann, What brand do you use?
he he he
Mine's a Vital-Port (Cook Vascular Incorporated)
They tend to use a 22G x 3/4" Gripper
But they don’t always have 3/4" so they have to use the next size up = 1”, which sticks out a mile.

cherieann:
Yeah I've a few horror stories too and l've had a nurse come out at me with a normal needle and syringe. That was after I got into a heated discussion with an emergency nurse explaining that I have a port and no they can't have my veins, they are reserved for my crossmatches. In the end I let her.
Needless to say she kept missing my veins, :mad a couple of veins collasped,  :pissedoff and I had bruises over both arms. :now The next morning I made my specialist write a letter that explains me and that they have to call a haematology nurse if I come into emergency to access my port. :biggrin


Good question about my port. What I can remember is that its base is made from titanium and that it is a single barrel venous access port. I've used the gripper needle too but prefer the .9mm x 13mm (20g). The other size is like you say sticks out a mile and the gripper needle tends to pull on my skin over the week period. The nurses say that my port jumps out says hello when I lie down.
It says hello even if I'm standing. :rotfl
You've probably have got the latest port on the market.  :wink

AstonDialo:
The Med student was actually serious about accessing my port with the 19G needle & 20ml syringe.
Are you on Warfarin?
My port is about a year old now...

nice friend:
thanx  :biggrin

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