Gianina Carter- Chemo Port

By giadancer12

  • Who & when was this device created?

    Who & when was this device created?
    The Chemotherapy Port was invented in 1982 by Niederhuber et al.

  • Who is it used for?

    Who is it used for?
    Primarily patients that have cancer, but also for patients severe infection, renal failure, or irritable bowel syndrome use a Chemo Port.

  • How does the Port work?

    How does the Port work?
    For the port to be used effectively, a needle is stuck through the patient's skin into the port's septum which can be used to give medications or for blood transfusions directly into the vein.

  • Pros of Ports

    Pros of Ports
    Ports provide more comfort to the patient because the needle only has to go through a thin layer of the epidermis rather than through the dermal layer. The Chemotherapy treatments last longer than one day, which saves patients time so they don't have to always stay in the hospitals for treatment. Also depending on the type of port it is (single or double lumen port), more than one medicine can be given at a time.With ports, you can take blood tests and chemotherapy treatment with just one stick.

  • Cons of Ports

    Cons of Ports
    Chemo Ports could cause thrombosis near the port site since it is connected to a larger vein and causes risk to the patient. Ports limit movement and if moved could cause the device to be moved out of place, which could cause a disconnect from the vein. There are possible mechanical issues that could happen like a defect or breakdown of the port.

  • What is it?

    What is it?
    A small, implanted device in the upper chest cavity under the skin, abdomen, or arm. It allows medical professionals to withdraw blood or give medications, like chemotherapy, without using a needle deep into the patient's skin. It uses a thin catheter to connect the port and vein.

  • Cons of Ports (continued)

    Cons of Ports (continued)
    Scarring is a common result of having a Chemo Port, which could make patients feel less confident about themselves. Infection occurs in 2% of cases, which may seem rare , but the infecting process could still happen.

  • Sources

    Sources
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097209/#:~:text=The%20currently%20used%20central%20venous,1982%20by%20Niederhuber%20et%20al.