Port issues

[Voxx66]

Damn - it's always something. Went in today to get blood drawn before tomorrow's doc apt and for the first time, my port refused to work. They ended up loading me up with heparin, drawing blood from my arm, and sending me home. Now of course I have to worry as to whether I have to have it replaced or not.

Anybody have similar problems? If it does have to be replaced, do they put it in the same place or do they move it?

With my low platelets, I am not sure what is going on here or what medication can be given. Any suggestion welcome.

[CRguy]

Probably can't help much BUTT here's my input buddy :

At my Cancer Agency ports are only for chemo infusions... no other blood draws or injections ... and only used by chemo trained nurses.
I had Groshong catheter tip which is essentially a sideways window flap which overlaps and stays shut except when things are forced through it from the port hub into the catheter. I could imagine the flap sitting against the vessel wall and when you try to pull blood backwards through it ... it kind of sticks to the vessel wall and, no go no flow.

Catheter tips can also get "clogged", clotted or twisted and even tie themselves in knots, so I hear .. making it impossible to use either way but certainly for blood draws. Could be a simple problem which can be corrected, clot busters, arm and body position changes have also been used to free things up. I'd say see what the chemo infusion nurses are able to do to flush and arm position you ..... sometimes things just correct themselves as easily as they mess up. JMO.

Cheers and best wishes
CR

[O Stoma Mia]

...Anybody have similar problems? If it does have to be replaced, do they put it in the same place or do they move it? .

Hi Voxx -

It looks like some other members may have had to move their ports to the other side:

Port Issues
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19258#p145407

Dejavu - ANOTHER port complication
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29679&start=15#p19098888

ostomamia

[skypup]

Hey Voxx, my first port was always having issues with blood return. They used something (TPA?) that was like a blood thinner to dissolve any clot that might be at the tip of the port. Never had to have it replaced. Hopefully, when you go in next it will work fine. Like CR, I don't use the port for anything but infusion because I ended up so wigged out from all the troubles with the first port, and because I am paranoid about getting a blood infection.

How are you doing otherwise? Still doing the spheres? Give me a ha!

[KWT]

I had mine replaced and they put it in the same place.

No one other than the chemo nurses ever want to touch that thing

[JJ2212]

Mine flipped after my first infusion. They tried to flip it back and when that didn't work, they put in a new one in the same spot. The procedure was no worse the second time around, just local anesthesia. Uncomfortable but no worse than that.

I figure it depends on why it doesn't work. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Take care.

Janie

[Voxx66]

The blood work is done at the cancer center by the chemo nurses so they certainly should have experience with this. Hopefully tomorrow it will either work straight up or maybe after they put some of that enzyme in there. I've already decided no Oxi so that isn't an issue but I was willing to do the 5fu if my doctor thought it wise. I just really don't want to hassle with another placement but I might have to.

[justin case]

I had a dual port, if one didn't work, it got flushed, but the other one was still available. It was a large bit of equipment, butt my oncologist was too greedy, and would not miss a super-bill They enjoyed the revenue a flush brought in as well. Perhaps if you need a replacement, a dual port may be justified.
Michael

[mstults]

They changed sides when my new one was placed. My old one would give blood sometimes. Sometimes it wouldn't. They said lots of ports wouldn't give return. They used the clot buster a couple times but it didn't help. The catheter migrated to an artery is the reason it was placed. Don't worry about it happening. If it does you will know it. Hurts like hell. With the old one they could sometimes get it to give a return if I was flat on my back, raised my arm, turned my head and coughed.

[Voxx66]

This one doesn't hurt at all so I assume it has migrated somewhere it shouldn't have. As I suspect many will attest to - it's the always something nature of this disease and treatment that really adds to the physical and mental fatigue.

[Kiwi Debz]

Hey Voxx

I have repeated issues with the blood draw out of my port. They tried some medication first time but no go so had blood draw thru my arm which is awful as I have no veins .... Platelets were too low that time so sent me home.

Last week they couldn't get it too work once again. Was at clinic every day for fluids thru the port as so sick with chemo. A different nurse. She told me too lift my arms above my head. Immediately we got blood. Sounds simple but give it a go!

Sympathies on platelets. Mine were below threshold last week again but we decided to go for it anyways!

Deb

[Mastan]

I had a similar problem recently. They did a doppler and found that the subclavial vein was completely blocked. I had not used the port for 8 mos. and did not get it flushed. They tried an IV solution of a clot breaker for a few hrs but that did not work. They then roto routed the vein with an angiojet and that did not work. Next step was pull the port and put a new one on the other side. That one is working fine. Be sure to have your port flushed a least once a month when not in use. I was out of the country for a few months with other problems so I did not follow thw port flush regimen and I paid for it. I was put on xarelto for a short while and it completely cleared the clot in the subclavial which was a relief.

Mark

[ANDRETEXAS]

I've had my port in since March. I have only used it for chemo. I only gave them blood from my arm for my blood tests during chemo. Will have it flushed for the third time on Wednesday. Working fine. Trying to decide when to take it out.

[Voxx66]

My port was working fine 2 weeks ago which was the last time it was accessed. Oh I am hoping we can get this going tomorrow.

[Val*pal]

My husband's port occasionally blocked, but it never had to be replaced during the 2.5 years he had it. I remember once the nurse asked him to cough and that immediately cleared whatever was blocking it. I think his was blocked about 7 times, but they always managed to get it working again. They'd inject heparin and then wait a bit.

His port was routinely used for blood draws and the chemo infusions. The phlebotomists at the cancer center were not as patient with the blockages as were the chemo nurses so sometimes the blood had to be drawn via needle, but the chemo nurses always got it working again. I think this is something that happens routinely since I saw other chemo patients having to get theirs cleared as well.