Power Ports

[msosnow]

Just wondering if anyone has gone through this with their child? My 12 year old daughter had a power port placed in April 2012, in WI. So this month, was her first time really sick and coughing up blood so of course she needed IV antibiotics for 10 days. This is the first time since being placed they used her port, it was nothing but problems, every 2 days it needed to be removed and re accessed, then finally after the 3rd time it would no longer work after x-rays they say it tilted or possibly is flipped. We kept up with the flushes every month, but even the last few months my home health nurse had a hard time accessing and I would bring her to children’s where they did access it with out to much trouble. I am very nervous about this and not sure what to do. They gave me the option to take her down and try again to access while looking at x-rays or just remove it, and have another placed somewhere else. Any suggestions, has this happened to anyone. Now I did look up on the web some complaints about the very same port not working, and they all filed complaints, I am looking to do that. I am also wondering if anyone knows of a better working port. Just looking for some suggestions. Thanks so much!

 

[sugarcookie]

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's port problems. I know that is very stressful. What type of port does she have? When you say it doesn't work, does that mean it cannot be accessed at all? Or does it simply not flush? I have a Bard power port and don't get a blood return with a standard 22 gauge needle. I now make sure the hospital IV team uses a 20 gauge needle and when I access my port at home, I use a 20 gauge. Another question-does her port stick up on her skin, or is it below the skin?

 

[sugarcookie]

One more thing: I would definitely take them up on their offer to try to get her accessed under X-ray to get a more clear diagnoses. If it is able to be accessed even though it's tilted (which makes me hopeful that is the case, esp since you said that Children's was able to access with no problem) then I wouldn't get it taken out. My IV nurse in the hospital was telling me that some people's ports are tilted and move all the way to almost under their arm, but they can still access them. If this is the case and your daughter's port is accessible, but difficult, maybe you can learn to access her port (I do my own), and you will become familiar with which way it moves and get used to it vs. a nurse or IV team, who is not familiar with it.

 

[msosnow]

Hi, thank you so much for your advice. She has a bard power port placed under her skin right in middle of her breasts. At this point they cannot access or flush, they can feel and see where it is, they tried poking a few times moving it around and just could not get it. I do think that they use a 22 gauge needle; I would have to double check my paperwork at home. As far as looking at it, it does stick up so you can clearly see it as long as we put a towel, down her spine. I will mention that about the gages when we go again, and maybe have them try a different size.
Here is the thing, through experience my daughter is remembering and not so trusting with people, after taking x-rays I had 3 people telling me different things, it’s tilted, it’s in place, and it’s completely flipped over. Another bad experience 2 years ago… was before placing this port the same central access team, poked my daughter 14 different times between her 2 arms completely bruised her up to try and place a picc, she remembers most of that and this is where she says to me “I don’t want to go through that again mom” and just wants it taken out and a new one placed, in a sense I don’t blame her…
I was finally comfortable with accessing port and then the bottom fell out, all these issues and I am nervous again….. I know in time this will get resolved, it’s just another bump in the road. Just hoping it gets easier. Thankfully, she usually only goes in once a year for IV antibiotics, and this is not something we typically have to deal with frequently besides taking a day to go to Children’s for the flush, but seeing as it’s not even a year old and all these problems something in my gut is just telling me to take out and replace … I am pretty sure they will make her go and see under interventional radiology before removing, I will just keep praying for the best outcome, and meanwhile keep trying to learn and figure out on my own. Thanks again for your response and time. God bless.

 

[GlennyB]

We have had three power ports in two years. We do not like power ports. The hospital is going to stop using them as a result.