At a glance
- Anaesthetic
- Local anaesthetic with mild sedation
- Procedure time
- About 45 minutes
- Hospital stay
- Day stay
- Where
- St George’s Hospital, Strowan
Typical for most people. Your consultant will tell you what to expect in your case.
On this page
Who it may help
The decision to place a port is made with your treating doctor. People who may benefit include those needing:
- chemotherapy
- frequent blood tests, when their veins are difficult to access
- frequent transfusions
What is a Port-a-Cath?
A Port-a-Cath (PAC) is a small device placed under the skin just below the collarbone by a surgeon or interventional radiologist. It is made of a sterile, durable material suitable as an implant.
The port has a chamber that can be reached with a needle through the skin. It is designed to be used many times, which makes it suitable for long-term treatment and blood tests. Ports are often used for chemotherapy, but can also be used for other treatments that need long-term access to a vein.
How the procedure is performed
- The procedure is performed by a consultant interventional radiologist.
- It is done under local anaesthetic with mild sedation.
- The skin is cleaned and covered with sterile drapes on your neck and just below your collarbone.
- A small pocket is made under the skin to hold the port.
- A vein in your neck is accessed, on the right or left.
- A small tube is guided under your skin from the pocket to the vein in your neck. It sits under the skin and is not visible.
- Using live X-ray guidance, the tip of the tube is placed just above the heart.
- The port is checked to make sure it works properly.
- The pocket is closed with dissolving stitches, which do not need removing.
- The small puncture in the neck is closed with skin glue.
- The procedure usually takes about 45 minutes, and you go home the same day.
Benefits
- Long-term access to your veins
- No visible line or dressing to look after, so you can swim, shower and bathe
- Most people return to normal activity the next day or within a few days
After the procedure
- Most people go home the same day.
- Light activities can resume within a few days.
- The pocket wound needs to heal before the port is used, which usually takes about 2 weeks.
- If treatment is needed straight away, a needle can be placed in the port during the procedure and secured, so the port can be used on the day it is inserted.
Risks and side effects
Complications are uncommon but may include:
- mild bruising or tenderness at the pocket and the neck puncture
- infection of the port, which means it has to be removed and replaced, with extra antibiotics
- an irregular heartbeat if the tip of the tube sits too close to the heart
- the wound opening if the stitches fail, which can lead to infection of the port
- a blood clot in the port or the vein, which sometimes means the port has to be replaced
More in Venous access
How to refer
Send referrals by HealthLink (EDI SIIRATOZ) or email admin@southislandir.co.nz. Please include:
- Relevant clinical history and treatments already tried, such as physiotherapy, injections or medication
- Recent imaging and reports, or where to access them
- Current medications, especially anticoagulants, and allergies, including to contrast
- Recent eGFR or creatinine where contrast will be used