Problems with Port a Cath

bethen

Problems with Port a Cath

bethen

Hi Ladies - I had a port a cath inserted into my chest back in January, and only once has it worked properly.  Today I went for chemo, and again they could not get any blood draws out of it until they practically had me standing on my head.  Now they say I need to go and have an x-ray to make sure that it is in position properly.  Apparently were it is fed under my clavicle they believe the line may be getting pinched off.  Anybody else had problems with the ports.

Thanks Betsy

mebmarj

I've had two. Never had a bit of trouble with either one. First one was in for 9 months and then was pulled when tx was done. Got second one due to new dx. Never were they fed under my clavicle. Get an opinion from another surgeon if possible. Best of luck to you.

Kicks

I haven't had any problems with my port in the 2 1/2+ years it's been in. It was used for 16 chemos, 2 surgeries, and monthly flushes. Don't use it for blood draws as I have great veins so not worth the hassle.



It does make sense to me that it might have some sort of a 'kink' in it somewhere.

exbrnxgrl

I have no problems with mine, used for monthly infusions and blood draws, but I have heard of others having problems with blood return. Is yours Port a Cath brand? Mine is a Bard Power Port. They seem very reliable if properly installed. If yours needs to be replaced ask about the Power Port.

Caryn

petjunkie

I have had a power port for 2 years, and I also have positional issues with it. To get a blood return I have to put my arms up, cough and breathe deeply until I'm lightheaded, and be reclined until I'm practically upside-down. Last week I had them do a TPA procedure, which is for clots. I just thought it couldn't hurt to try-- they inject a gel substance and it sits in the line 30 minutes, then they suck it out and flush. My nurse thought the line was "less sluggish" after, but the real test will be next time I go for infusion.

chelseasanfran

I have a portacath (central line) and when mine was placed I was told that there tend to be two different approaches/techniques for central lines, one done by surgeons and another done by radiation oncologists. The other option for chemo administration is a PICC line or regular IV. 

The surgeons insert the central line tubing via the subclavian vein, which runs right over the clavicle and reportedly (according to the rad onc that inserted mine), these tend to have more problems, whereas the rad oncs place it into the internal jugular vein and feed it down to where the port drains (into the superior vena cava of the heart). 

I had one placed in December and it worked great for three months through four cycles of chemo and hydration. I haven't had it removed yet, but I will soon. I'll have a fairly noticeable scar, but it was definitely better than a PICC line or IV for chemo. 

Sorry to hear you've had so many problems.

bcbarbie10

Is there a problem with portacath being placed on the same side as the mastectomy? Mine was inserted 2 weeks ago, had one chemo session with it 3 days ago, now my chest wall and inner arm feel thick. Looks okay, though, not warm or flushed.

chelseasanfran

Dear bcbarbie,  I think that they typically place it on the side opposite the mastectomy. This is consistent with them also generally not taking blood from the Mastectomy arm ever again.  I think this is more because of the lymphadema and nerve damage (cording) that is often associated with the lymph node removal, more than the mastectomy itself.  

I just had my portacath removed about 5-6 weeks ago and it has really not healed well.  They used internal stitches that were supposed to be absorbed, but the stitches just keep oozing out through the scar, which is supposedly healed. They also put this very nasty sticky goop over it, which took two to three weeks to get off.

I have a chronic irritation under the scar, which is very red and it keeps causing more and more scar tissue. It is also twice the length of the insertion scar and there is a cavity (dent) in my chest for about 1/2 inch vertically above the scar (this is the space where the port head was). I had one piece of a stitch removed by my breast surgeon in early June about a week after it was removed, then finally went to see the interventional radiologist who placed (not the one who removed it and whom I didn't like). He pulled another big stitch out of the wound.

When I asked him to open it up and take all the stitches out and just use steristrips like they did with my lumpectomy wound, he refused and referred me to a dermatologist for a shot of Kenalog (cortisone). I am continuing to use a home remedy from my women's health days (I helped write a booklet in the 70's entitled "Herbal Remedies for Women"), soaking the wound regularly in very warm water, cleaning it with hydrogen peroxide and rubbing/milking out the stitches or pulling them out with tweazers if they are far enough out on the surface to access.   

With all of these problems, I still think it was probably better than a PICC line or an IV for chemo, but now I would be very clear in advance what surgical approaches and wound closure techniques they were going to use before I got one inserted again. 

bcbarbie10

Thanks for your input chelseasanfran. I went to see both my MO and the other dr who put it. They said it was just fine, and guess they're right. I forget about it now!

Sorry to hear about your post port removal problems. I hope the wound turns out okay pretty soon. And i hope you will never need one again.

ivylynn

I haven't used it yet because it was installed yesterday.  They would not let me leave the hospital until I had a chest x-ray to make sure it was placed correctly.

exbrnxgrl

The chest x-ray is standard procedure after all port placements to make sure you don't have a lung puncture. Caryn

bcbarbie10

Who else has a port on the same side as the mastectomy? Mine's working just fine but i get some weird sensations on my mastectomy site whenever the port's accessed. Looks fine but it feels a bit "thick", my right chest. Im on weekly herceptin now and im scared it might worsen.

msphil

I never had aproblem with my port, matter of fact I was sorry they removed it after treatment cause now my veins were shot and they could never get a vein when I needed blood drawn but yrs later it,s better and they still use a baby needle for my stick.  msphil

leggo

This is probably not the same kind of situation, but I have a perma-cath (for plasma exchange). The first time it was put in it was nothing but trouble....couldn't get proper blood draws, couldn't get a good flow and worst of all, the incision sites never healed. After numerous tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, etc., they just decided to move it micro-millimeters and everything was fine after that. Still no explanation, but family doctor thinks it may have just been sitting to close to something (he told me what, but can't remember).