An infusion port is a small medical device installed beneath the skin to provide a consistent way to access a large vein. It acts as a permanent entry point that allows medical teams to deliver treatments or draw blood without repeatedly sticking needles into your arms. The device consists of a small chamber, or port, with a soft, resealable top called a septum, connected to a thin, flexible tube known as a catheter. The system sits under the skin, usually on the chest or arm, offering a long-term solution for frequent intravenous access.
Purpose and Placement of an Infusion Port
Patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, which can be harsh on smaller veins, often receive a port to protect their vascular system. It is also used for extended courses of antibiotics, intravenous nutrition, or for individuals with conditions that require frequent blood draws, especially if their peripheral veins are difficult to access. The port provides direct entry to a large, central vein, ensuring medications are delivered efficiently into the bloodstream.
The placement of an infusion port is a minor surgical procedure performed in an outpatient setting by a surgeon or an interventional radiologist. The medical team will determine the best location, which is in the upper chest about an inch below the collarbone. The area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and a small incision is made to create a pocket under the skin for the port.
Through this incision, the catheter is threaded into a major vein, such as the superior vena cava. Once the catheter is in position, the port is settled into its skin pocket, and the incision is closed with stitches or surgical glue. Following the procedure, some tenderness is normal, and a dressing will cover the area until it heals, leaving only a small bump under the skin.
Accessing and Using the Port
When it is time for treatment, a healthcare provider will access the port using a specialized, non-coring needle called a Huber needle. This needle is designed to pierce the port’s silicone septum without causing damage, allowing the port to be used hundreds of times. A nurse will first clean the skin over the port and then feel for the port’s center to guide the needle insertion.
For many patients, a topical numbing cream can be applied to the skin about 30 minutes before access to minimize the pricking sensation. Once the needle is in place, it is secured with a clear dressing to keep the site sterile. Before administering medication, the nurse will flush the port with a saline solution to ensure the line is clear and functioning correctly.
After the infusion is complete, the port is flushed again with a small amount of an anticoagulant solution like heparin. This step prevents clotting within the catheter, keeping the line open and ready for the next use.
Living with an Infusion Port
Once the incision has fully healed, the port should not interfere with daily life. Since the device sits under the skin, activities like showering and swimming are permitted. Patients can sleep in any position, though placing a small pillow between a seatbelt and the port site can add comfort while driving.
Most physical activities can be resumed, but it is recommended to avoid high-impact or contact sports that could involve a direct blow to the port area. Always inform your medical team about the port before other procedures, such as an MRI, to ensure proper precautions are taken.
Caring for the port involves keeping the overlying skin clean and watching for problems. Contact a doctor for signs of infection like redness, swelling, warmth, pain at the port site, or fever. You should also report swelling in the arm, neck, or chest on the same side as the port, or any noticeable movement of the device under the skin.
Port Removal
When an infusion port is no longer needed, it can be removed in a procedure that is simpler and quicker than its placement. Using a local anesthetic, a healthcare provider makes a small incision over the port and withdraws the device and its catheter. The incision is then closed with stitches or surgical strips. Care involves keeping the small wound clean and dry until it heals, which leaves a small scar.