Port surgery with no anethesia

I had the conscious sedation for my port, and it was easy-peasy. No pain. There was a curtain-tent type thing around my shoulders that blocked my view of anything going on surgically. I was conscious; I could hear voices, but could not move or feel physical sensations, and my emotions were totally detached (no fear, no anxiety, no pain). It was kind of like a dream, and the whole thing was over before I knew it.

I read your thread title and gasped. No anesthesia? Ah, but I was glad to see you meant no general anesthesia. It's fairly common to have a port installed with only conscious sedation. Also, it avoids risks associated with general anesthesia. Before going the EMLA (lidocaine/prilocaine cream), check to see if your infusion center offers a numbing spray. I think it works just as well as EMLA AND YOU DON't have to put it on in advance. 15 seconds of the spray and you're good to go

I had conscious sedation for the "intake" and local for the "outtake" three years later - both were no problem - the numbing spray worked mostly but I did have a nurse or two who were less gentle than the norm.....as for accessing for scans - well not so easy as lots of techs aren't able to access power ports - it's all such a game isn't it?

I assumed that I would have conscious sedation for my port surgery, but found out when I was there that they planned to use only local Ilidocaine. I told the doc there was no way I could deal with it so they gave me conscious sedation. No problem after that.

Leah

My first chemo infusion was just with an IV because of scheduling, and it went fine. I am glad I had the port for the rest.

If you are uncertain about the local anesthesia vs. conscious sedation vs. general anesthesia, find out more from your doctors until you feel more comfortable.

I had conscious sedation for my port placement, done in the radiology department. They used fentanyl and versed. I would do it that way again. During my port placement, at one point I "woke up" and said "Ow ow ow!". They quickly gave me more drugs in my IV, and I was out again. It was not traumatic. I was able to tell them, they responded, it was fine. (Looking back, I think that when they started the IV drugs and I said I felt dizzy, they thought I had enough drugs, but it was actually the smell of the alcohol they were cleaning me with that made me dizzy.) Recovery from this sedation was so fast and easy compared to general anesthesia, and I liked avoiding the heavier drugs of general anesthesia. I got them to put zofran in the cocktail to ward off nausea as I'm prone to that. I had my second chemo infusion later that day with no problems.

You might want to ask what kind of port will it be, and where exactly it will be placed. I would have liked mine 1/2" lower for clothing compatibility (not sure if that would have been possible or not) because it shows more on me than on some people. But I am happy they gave me a Power Port because that kind can even be used for the injections for PET scans, bone scans, etc. I prefer to have the VAD (venous access device) nurses access the port before scans. Where I go the secret is to get a "VAD flush" appointment right before the scan and leave it accessed. The radiology nurses/techs like it this way also. I always show them my Power Port card; they have to see that because not all ports can handle these injections.

Crs003 and tjh, getting your ports soon, I wish you both smooth sailing!

I just had my port taken out Tuesday. They just numbed the area and took it out. It was weird being awake but it didn't hurt at all.

I was totally knocked out in the OR at oir local hospital. I am very hard to keep knocked out and woke up in time to see my Surgeon walk out the door. Dr G went up to talk to Hubby and told him it'd be hours before I'd be out of recovery and to discharge. Wrong - I was taken straight to discharge and they called Hubby as he was driving out the parking lot to come get me. We are all different in how we/our body handles drugs.

I too had conscious sedation. I was aware of the surgeon implanting and removing the port, but was blissfully imagining laying on the ground looking up at sunlit dappled leaves gently moving to the wind. Not sure why my mind drifted to that imagery, but it had to be the most pleasant part of all cancer treatment. When I need to calm anxiety, that's where I return.