My Husband has had his Portacath in for 4+ years without use. Now he is having it removed. Wouldn't it have tissue growth on it, and possible blood clots that could become dislodged during removal? Could this be a problem?
2007-05-12 06:16:57 · 7 answers · asked by aa_kokopelli7 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
The porta cath is being removed to lessen his chance of getting sepsis or some other infection from the catheter.
Removal of the ports are a pretty routine procedure. I helped a doctor take one out at bedside one day using Lidocaine and a #7 scalpel and suture kit.
I have used hundreds of these Bard ports and taken care of pts who have them removed and have never seen a problem with the removal, but lots of problems when you leave them in. It does have some tissue keeping it from flipping over, or moving around, but it is not a problem to take it out.
2007-05-13 18:07:29 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Port A Cath Removal
2016-10-01 10:57:12 · answer #2 · answered by arguelles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ports can stay in for years before removal. Years vary depending on the doctor and the cancer. Some will leave them in until the 4 or 5 year mark. I'm sure they will take all standard precautions. If the port hasn't been flushed 1x monthly then it's probably beyond usage. You should ask the doctor about your husband's specific case. Ultra sounds or xrays prior or during is standard. Good luck.
2007-05-12 09:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully, the port has been maintained properly. This includes being flushed once a month, and probably your husband has been on Coumadin, or another blood thinner, to prevent clotting. It should be removed under fluoroscopy. You husband's doctor will know what's best. They will probably do a scan on it before removal. Mine's been in 3 years so far, and I have it flushed monthly and I'm on Coumadin.
Best wishes
2007-05-14 03:57:54 · answer #4 · answered by Char 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at the very least it should have been flushed periodically, I had one removed after 6 months only to have another one installed on the other side of my chest when my cancer came back...there was about a year and a half interval between the first one and the present one...I'm 67 yrs. old and if i finish this round of chemo i will probably not remove it just in case i need it again, but i will get it flushed out every so often, good luck to you. and i hope your husband never needs the portacath again...
2007-05-12 07:36:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long term central vein catheter removal usually is a quick, easy procedure done under local anesthesia. But on rare occasions, catheters can accidentally break off during procedure and may need further procedures to remove the catheter that broke off. At times the catheter can not be pulled out because it got embedded in the vessel wall, these are catheters that are in place for years. Talk it out with your doctor removing the device/catheter.
drmfs.
2015-02-02 02:44:42 · answer #6 · answered by Mario 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he has been wearing it for 4 yrs he should have been going in every 6 - 8 wks to have it flushed. Removing it should be fine.
2007-05-12 16:09:40 · answer #7 · answered by tessasmomy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋