Healthcare Professionals

You are your patients’ best advocate. With that role comes the opportunity to recommend the appropriate vascular access device–one that suits both their immediate and long-term needs.

If you are a nurse or physician:

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What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Port?

Advantages:

  • Can remain in place and be functional for many years
  • Ideal for intermittent access
  • May have less potential for infection than external catheters
  • No dressing required when the port is not accessed; therefore, ideal for patients with tape allergies
  • Flushing is only required every four weeks when not in use
  • Less potential for the catheter to fall out/migrate
  • May be used to infuse all I.V. solutions and blood products
  • Can be used to draw blood
  • Has less effect on body image than external catheters

Disadvantages:

  • Must be placed with a minor surgical procedure
  • Must be accessed with a needle
  • Needle can migrate out of septum, causing extravasation
  • Presence of port may interfere with sleep patterns
  • Requires a specially trained nurse to access and deaccess
  • Limited lumen options
  • Over time, buildup of “sledge” (clotted blood and drug precipitates) may collect in the port reservoir and decrease flow efficiency
  • Poses risk of complications such as catheter related infection and thrombosis

Instruction for use

The PowerPort® implantable port is indicated for patient therapies requiring repeated access to the vascular system and should be inserted by a medical professional. The port system can be used for infusion of medications, I.V. fluids, parenteral nutrition solutions, blood products, and for the withdrawal of blood samples. For more safety information, download the PDF below.


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