Noun;

A small, medical device implanted under the skin to provide long-term access to a central vein.  Used to draw blood and give treatments, including intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or drugs such as chemotherapy and antibiotics.

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This little device is a medical wonder.  When I was first asked if I wanted one, I thought, hell no!  A device going into my main vein, that will live under my skin for the duration of my treatment.  I felt sick just thinking about it.

 

But the alternatives to a Portacath are a PICC or Hickman line, which involves part of the mechanism hanging out of you, dangling about trying to get caught on your shirt buttons; or having to find a vein in your wrist, or hand, or toe, or wherever they can get a line in, each time you have treatment.

 

So, I was very quickly convinced that a Portacath (port, for short) was the way forwards.

 

Mine was done under general anesthetic, which I will be eternally grateful for, but I do believe if you have elephant sized cohones, you can have it done under a local.

 

I can’t pretend to understand totally how it works, but basically, you have what looks like a little face poking out of your chest.  I called mine Scream.  The little face then has a direct line into a main artery, making the administration of IV drugs much quicker, easier, and with less risk of infection.

Whenever I had to have bloods taken, or chemo administered, they pierced Scream with a needle and then hooked me up.  Easy peasy.

 

I would definitely recommend a port.  Really made the whole thing a lot less gut wrenching.

 

I think a port can stay in for years, but I had mine removed while I was having my mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.  Otherwise, they would have removed it while I was awake, and to be honest, I’d rather slam my hand in a door than be awake for that!