CIDP Ports
-
-
February 14, 2008 at 6:55 pm
My son Jeffery is now scheduled to have a port put in, we have put it off way to long, his veins have now stopped working in his arms. I have heard good and bad about them. I am very concerned about infection. I have also read about making sure a cap is put on if the iv is to be kept in for the week.
Any comments would be helpful.Thank you,
Wendy -
February 14, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Emily got her port put in when she was 4 almost 5. She’s 6 now & it’s been a life saver for her.
First off, there is a chance of infection with anything that is put in the body. However, chance of infection with a port is minimal if the access & care are done using proper sterile technique.
Emla cream can be applied 30 minutes to 2 hours before the access, you’ll figure out the correct timing with that. Then the nurse should access the port using proper sterile technique – meaning he/she should wear sterile gloves & mask. The port site should be cleaned with alcohol swabs & a Chloraprep.
There should ALWAYS be a cap placed at the end of the Huber needle. Some hospitals don’t have them, but if you are doing home care then it shouldn’t be a problem to have one.
ANYTIME ANYTHING is inserted into the tube, the cap or end of the tube if no cap is used, should be cleaned with an alcohol swab.
Using these techniques will significantly reduce the chance of infection.
Good luck,
Kelly -
February 14, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Hi,
Dell is 3-3/4 and got a port last May. It has been the best thing we ever did. The dr. did not want us to do it, I think he was afraid of infections but we have had no problems, knock on wood.
Like Kelly writes, make sure everything is clean. One time, while we were in the hospital, the nurse whipped the cap but put it down again. He picked it back up to put saline through but was not going to whip it again. I told him to whip it and he did. You have to really watch.
You need to write us to tell us if you’re going to do home infusions. That is also the best thing we ever did.
Good luck,
Lori -
February 14, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi,
I left you a private message, my son Kevin had one put in 4 months ago.
Dawn -
February 15, 2008 at 9:30 pm
although my son does not have this disease he had a port put in that was in for seven years and not once did he have an infection once from the port. Just making sure that when accessing the port they use sterile equipment is basically the only thing that I made sure was done. It was a lifesaver for us because after all the IV’s Kendal had his veins were shot and this made things so much better at home and hospital. Good luck and best wishes for you all.
-
