Port Placement/ Removal

A port is an implanted IV access that is typically used for chemotherapy administration. Ports are usually placed under the skin of the upper right chest where they can stay in place for several years, or a few months – depending on the needs of the patient.

With the patient on their back on an X-ray table, and after a local anesthetic is applied, using ultrasound guidance the right internal jugular vein (typically) is accessed with a needle. A wire is then passed through the needle into the vein and using X-ray guidance, the wire is guided into a safe position.  Next, an incision is made in the upper chest, a subcutaneous pocket is created and the port is positioned within the pocket. The catheter connected to the port is then tunneled underneath the skin to the vein access site, where it is then inserted into the vein under X-ray guidance.

Once the catheter is in position, the port is ready to use right away. The incision is closed with absorbable stitches and covered with skin glue

This is a minimally-invasive procedure which takes about 15-minutes and is performed in our comfortable, office-based laboratory, which means that there is no need to take time off work or go to a hospital. Typically, moderate sedation is utilized, however, some patients opt for local anesthesia only. There is usually no need for “recovery time” because the procedures are so gentle that there is nothing to recover from and patients walk out of the office afterwards.  Patients are asked to keep the incision site clean and dry for several days to allow for healing and decrease risk of infection and patients are instructed to do no heavy lifting (defined as > 15 lbs) for five days after the procedure