by BodyScientific
Item Scanned: Nursing Care
SEESITE® Venous Access Systems
Introduction
Your doctor has prescribed a SEESITE® implantable port to help facilitate the frequent administration of medication and infusions directly into your bloodstream. Implantable ports were developed to make your treatment easier and more comfortable.
What is a Port?
Your port is a titanium and polyoxymethylene reservoir with a silicone membrane, which is surgically placed under the skin. Medications and fluids can be delivered directly into your bloodstream with a simple injection through the skin and into the port using a special port needle.
Types of Port Catheters available through Zebra Medical
Insertion Procedure
Your port will be inserted by your doctor in a sterile setting. The procedure takes about 40 minutes. It can be inserted on either side of your chest. The doctor will make a small incision to insert the port. The stitches are dissolvable and will not need to be removed. The site is usually covered by a transparent dressing.
Should you be having treatment in the very near future the doctor may elect to insert the first port access needle at the same time as the port is being implanted.
Care For Your Port
Once the incision has healed you will notice a “bump” under the skin that is about the size of a R2 coin. Your port can remain in your body for many years if necessary provided that good care has been taken. Once healed, the port area requires no special care. You are free to wear all kinds of clothing and participate freely in most sports and other activities. Once the port incision site has healed, it may be helpful to use a local anaesthetic cream over the port area 45 minutes prior to the needle being inserted.
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Should your port not be used regularly (ie every 4 weeks), check with your doctor or sister as to whether you need to have it flushed.
Position of Port Catheter
Medication Administration
A nurse will administer medication or flush your port on a regular basis. Here is what to expect during this procedure.
The nurse will prepare the sterile supplies.
The nurse will check for blood draw before administering medication.
The nurse will draw saline into the syringe, push out a few droplets to remove air from the needle and close.
The nurse will place a dressing over the needle for your comfort and keep the port area clean.
The nurse will clean the port area.
The nurse will flush the port with saline after treatment.