Wait time
A port needle can be used for 5-7 days, after which the needle must be changed. Depending on the manufacturer, a port can be pierced up to 2000 times.
Complications
Below you will find an overview of the possible complications. Various complications can occur with a port system. For example, a haematoma can form in the port site or at the injection site.
In addition, if the port is punctured incorrectly, fluid can flow next to the vein and thus damage the surrounding tissue. A faulty puncture can also result in an injury to the catheter system, causing it to leak and become unusable. If an incorrect needle is used for the puncture, the membrane of the port may be defective and the port is also no longer usable.
In addition, skin defects can also be caused by the puncture. The most dreaded complications are probably the infection of parts of the port, such as the port pocket or the port itself, and the resulting consequences, such as blood poisoning (sepsis) or inflammation of the heart (endocarditis). Another serious complication is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in the port system if it has not been flushed sufficiently.
In this case the port is no longer usable because the vessel is blocked. These topics may also be of interest to you:
- Pain
- Bruise
- Skin defects
- Infection of port portions
- Formation of a blood clot
- Blood Poisoning
- Inflammation of the heart
- Symptoms of endocarditis
- Symptoms of blood poisoning
Pain at the port puncture site can occur for various reasons. Firstly, a small hematoma when puncturing the port can cause pain, in which case a small bruise is usually also visible.
Another cause can be infections of the port or a not well lying port system. In this case, a doctor should be contacted in any case. This topic might also be of interest to you: Pain after a puncture
