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| A port is a small device with a hollow space inside that is sealed by a soft top. The port is connected to a small flexible tube called a catheter. |
| In a short procedure that can be done at a hospital or in the doctor's office, the port is implanted, which means it is placed completely beneath the skin, and the catheter is inserted inside a blood vessel. Mine was inserted in my jugular vein. Ports are usually implanted on the upper chest as was mine My procedure was done in the doctor's office. |
| MEDIPORT - ALTERNATIVE TO AN IV. |
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| A slight cut was made at my jugular vein (sounds scary, anyway it sounded scary to me) and the catheter was inserted and moved down until it reached the port and then attached to the port, which had already been inserted. Then he closed me up, put on a bandaid-type dressing, and sent me home. |
| Two weeks later I was ready to receive chemotherapy through my new port. It wasn't only the chemo that made me thankful for the port, it was taking blood samples, at first weekly and later sometimes almost every day. And the times I was in the hospital the port made things go a lot easier. With the port accessed, I was given meds and blood was drawn. No more IVs or blood taken from my arm. |
| The port acts like an IV to the bloodstream. A special needle is inserted just below the surface of the skin and into the port so that medications and fluids can be given, and blood samples withdrawn. |