Postby Val*pal » Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:27 am
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.
DH dx'ed May '11, age 62
Jul '11: resection Stage IV
10/11: 6 mo Folfox
8/12:thyr canc, surg/tx
2/13: peri mets
2/13: Firi/Avas
6/13: Ok
8/13: break
10/13: Lung, peri, mets
10/13: Firi/Erb
1/14: Erb Fail; spread
5/14: Tx stopped
6/20/14: At rest