who has a portacath ??

just wondering if anyone has a portacath for venous access ,i have one and have had this one 7 months now but previously had 3 has anyone else got one? does yours block easily or get infected

[yaf_user681_34383]

Hi Roxy I had my first one inserted this year and so far its not got blocked or infected touch wood. They save being stabbed several times though don't they? I had mine as my veins are now rubbish to cannulate. Hope yours stays in good working order.wheezer

Take care

Sad

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hi mine not to bad at mo had a few probs flushing last week but heplocked it and now working a bit better..

do you manage yours at home ?

where did you have it inserted ? ya my veins packed up a long time ago cant even get centrall and fem lines in now have had the odd canula im the finger lol but that lasted for all of a couple of hours

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just out of curiousity and for any one else who thinking the same what is a portacath?

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Hi plummie

Its a permant implanted device in you main vein to deliver drugs,fluids ect ..

Alot of the cf patients have them so they dont have to go through repeated canualas ect ...

its pritty much the same as a hickman line but just looks differant ..

they are brill and have saved my life as ive no iv access veins are completly shot from +++ hospital admissions and some harsh drugs ive had that have killed my veins off..

They have to be treated under sterile conditions when in use as it leads towards the heart and if anybugs get in its not good ..

not sure how many brittles have them i know the surgeon who put mine in said that he mainly puts them in cfs but has had a few brittles recently who have had them ...

For anyone whos consultant is taking about refering you to have one in then there are risks but i would not be without one and would recomend one over a hickman anyday ..

hope this helps plummie and hope your well xx

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Hi plummie

Its a permant implanted device in you main vein to deliver drugs,fluids ect ..

Alot of the cf patients have them so they dont have to go through repeated canualas ect ...

its pritty much the same as a hickman line but just looks differant ..

they are brill and have saved my life as ive no iv access veins are completly shot from +++ hospital admissions and some harsh drugs ive had that have killed my veins off..

They have to be treated under sterile conditions when in use as it leads towards the heart and if anybugs get in its not good ..

not sure how many brittles have them i know the surgeon who put mine in said that he mainly puts them in cfs but has had a few brittles recently who have had them ...

For anyone whos consultant is taking about refering you to have one in then there are risks but i would not be without one and would recomend one over a hickman anyday ..

hope this helps plummie and hope your well xx

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i had one when i was 7 for cancer. they should flush it out every time they use it with a saline solution and they should always sterilise the area before injecting it. i never had an infection, but they where using mine every day to every 4 days. maybe you just need to have it flushed every couple of days to prevent clogging of the wires (which are really really tiny!).

but you have to be really ontop of it.

hope this helps

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Bumped up for Kipo

Hi Kipo - not sure if this thread is any help? I did a search on portacath and came up with some other results too if you're interested. Just searched in the forums though.

Feejay