Skip navigation

Central venous catheters - ports

A central venous catheter is a tube that goes into a vein in your chest and ends at your heart. Sometimes this type of catheter is attached to a device called a port that will be under your skin. The port and catheter are put in place in a minor surgery.

The catheter helps carry nutrients and medicine into your body. It will also be used to take blood when you need to have blood tests. Having a port attached to your catheter will causeless wear and tear on your veins than just having the catheter.

Why Do I Need a Central Venous Catheter and Port?

Catheters are used when you need medical treatment over a long period of time. For example, you may need:

  • Antibiotics or other medicines for weeks to months
  • Extra nutrition because your bowels are not working correctly

Or you may be receiving:

  • Kidney dialysis several times a week
  • Cancer drugs often

Your doctor will talk with you about other methods for receiving medicine and fluids into a vein and will help you decide which one is best for you. Other methods are:

How Is the Port Placed?

A port is placed under your skin in a minor surgery. Most ports are placed in the chest, but they may also be placed in the arm.

  • You may be placed into a deep sleep so you do not feel pain during surgery.
  • You may stay awake and receive medicines to help you relax and numb the area so that you do not feel pain.

You can go home after your port is in place.

  • You will be able to feel and see a quarter-sized bump under your skin where your port is.
  • You may be a little sore for a few days after surgery.
  • Once you have healed, your port should not hurt.

Taking Care of and Using Your Port

Your port has 3 parts:

  • Portal or reservoir -- a pouch that is made of hard metal or plastic
  • Rubber top -- where a needle is inserted into the portal
  • Tube or catheter -- carries medicine or blood from the portal to a large vein and into the heart

To get medicine or nutrition through your port, a trained nurse or doctor will stick a special needle through your skin and the rubber top and into the portal. A numbing cream can be used on your skin to decrease the pain of the needle stick.

  • Your port may be used in your home, in a clinic, or in the hospital.
  • A sterile dressing (bandage) will be placed around your port when it is used to protect you against infection.

When your port is not being used, you can bathe or swim, as long as your doctor says you are ready for activity. Check with your doctor if you plan to do any contact sports, such as soccer and football.

Nothing will stick out of your skin when your port is not being used. This decreases your chance of infection.

About once a month, you will need to have your port flushed to help prevent clots. To do this, your health care provider will use a special solution.

Ports can be used for a long time. When you no longer need your port, your health care provider will remove it.

When to Call our Doctor

If you notice any of these signs of infection, tell your doctor or nurse right away:

  • Your port seems to have moved.
  • Your port site is red or there are red streaks around the site.
  • Your port site is swollen or warm.
  • Yellow or green drainage is coming from your port site.
  • You have pain or discomfort at the site.
  • You have a feverover 100.5 oF (38.0 oC).

Alternate Names

Central venous catheter - subcutaneous; Port-a-Cath; InfusaPort, PasPort; Subclavian port; Medi - port; Central venous line - port

References

Rosovsky RP, Kuter DJ. Central venous catheters: Care and complications In: Chabner BA, Longo DL, eds. Cancer Chemotherapy & Biotherapy: Principles & Practices. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. 2011 Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. April 2011. Accessed March 5, 2012.

Update Date: 5/17/2012

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.

A.D.A.M Quality Logo

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2012, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.

A.D.A.M Logo