Repeated blood draws and injections can be uncomfortable for people undergoing certain treatments. Port placement offers an alternative and is among the services available from the surgeons of Foris Surgical Group in Frederick, Maryland. Learn more during a face-to-face visit, which you can book online or by phone today.
Port placement is a minor surgical procedure that places a small implant device just beneath your skin's surface. This creates an access point between your circulatory system and the external environment for medical treatment.
People going through oncology, hematology, or hemodialysis treatment find themselves having frequent blood draws, intravenous therapy, or injections. While necessary for treatment, these needle encounters are not a comfortable experience.
Having a port placed allows your medical team to deliver the care you need without penetrating your skin with needles again and again. The implanted device has a catheter, a small surgical tube connecting directly to a vein. The needles go into the port, not your skin.
Placing the port requires a minor surgical procedure. A light general anesthetic, in addition to a local anesthetic, is usually all that's needed to keep you resting comfortably. At the same time, your surgeon creates an incision to access the underlying tissue.
Ports typically reside in the area near your clavicle (collar bone). The catheter portion is placed within a larger vein, with the port portion positioned beneath your skin. Once the catheter connects to the port, your surgeon closes the incision, and the healing process begins.
The needle enters the port through the self-sealing septum when your medical team needs to draw blood or administer medications. This special area is made of a material that allows the needle to enter and exits hundreds of times without creating a leak.
Having your port removed is a similar process. The primary difference lies in the fact that there is no need to access a vein when removing the port.
Once the area is thoroughly cleansed, an incision is made to access the port. Once the device is lifted from your body, the incision is sutured closed. The removal procedure can usually be done without general anesthesia.
A degree of bruising, tenderness, and swelling is to be expected for a few days after your removal procedure. After a few days, you should be able to resume normal activities.
If you have additional questions about port placement for venous access, call the office to schedule a visit. Online booking is also an option and allows you to book from the comfort of home, any time of day or night.