What size needle do you use for your port?

C

coltsfan715

New member
Hey there guys.

Well I just got a port about 1 week ago. It has been accessed since last Friday. Things are going fine though it is still tender, but I had a concern/question.

What size needle do you guys use - not needle length but more like gauge. I am asking because my homehealth nurse and CF Nurse seem to think that the needle I have is too small because the infusion of my meds is delayed unless on a pump (I have one on a pump and one on a gravity bag). Also the homehealth nurse tried to draw blood from it today and got blood return but couldn't get enough blood to come through the line for the level she needed. She struggled to get the blood to flow back.

They don't feel it is clotted or there would be no flow and no blood, but I just didn't know if there was a size needle that was used across the board or if it was done on an individual basis.

I think the nurse at the hospital told me she was using the smallest needle they had when she accessed it the first time last week, but do not recall what size she said it was.

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Hey there guys.

Well I just got a port about 1 week ago. It has been accessed since last Friday. Things are going fine though it is still tender, but I had a concern/question.

What size needle do you guys use - not needle length but more like gauge. I am asking because my homehealth nurse and CF Nurse seem to think that the needle I have is too small because the infusion of my meds is delayed unless on a pump (I have one on a pump and one on a gravity bag). Also the homehealth nurse tried to draw blood from it today and got blood return but couldn't get enough blood to come through the line for the level she needed. She struggled to get the blood to flow back.

They don't feel it is clotted or there would be no flow and no blood, but I just didn't know if there was a size needle that was used across the board or if it was done on an individual basis.

I think the nurse at the hospital told me she was using the smallest needle they had when she accessed it the first time last week, but do not recall what size she said it was.

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Hey there guys.

Well I just got a port about 1 week ago. It has been accessed since last Friday. Things are going fine though it is still tender, but I had a concern/question.

What size needle do you guys use - not needle length but more like gauge. I am asking because my homehealth nurse and CF Nurse seem to think that the needle I have is too small because the infusion of my meds is delayed unless on a pump (I have one on a pump and one on a gravity bag). Also the homehealth nurse tried to draw blood from it today and got blood return but couldn't get enough blood to come through the line for the level she needed. She struggled to get the blood to flow back.

They don't feel it is clotted or there would be no flow and no blood, but I just didn't know if there was a size needle that was used across the board or if it was done on an individual basis.

I think the nurse at the hospital told me she was using the smallest needle they had when she accessed it the first time last week, but do not recall what size she said it was.

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
H

HairGirl

New member
I also use a 22 gauge and haven't had any problems! Of course I never am able to use it for blood draw, they want the blood to come from another place since I have my meds going in there continuously!
 
H

HairGirl

New member
I also use a 22 gauge and haven't had any problems! Of course I never am able to use it for blood draw, they want the blood to come from another place since I have my meds going in there continuously!
 
H

HairGirl

New member
I also use a 22 gauge and haven't had any problems! Of course I never am able to use it for blood draw, they want the blood to come from another place since I have my meds going in there continuously!
 
J

JustDucky

New member
Yep, me too...22 most times, but sometimes a 20 if things get a little sluggish, usually fixes that problem in hurry. Or, if it is really sluggish, I flush it more aggressively- I also find that when it is about time to change the needle, the infusion can become really slow, simply changing the needle out fixes that too in my case. My port can be fussy, it actually clogged up on me once despite proper flushing protocol. I hope I have helped...Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
Yep, me too...22 most times, but sometimes a 20 if things get a little sluggish, usually fixes that problem in hurry. Or, if it is really sluggish, I flush it more aggressively- I also find that when it is about time to change the needle, the infusion can become really slow, simply changing the needle out fixes that too in my case. My port can be fussy, it actually clogged up on me once despite proper flushing protocol. I hope I have helped...Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
Yep, me too...22 most times, but sometimes a 20 if things get a little sluggish, usually fixes that problem in hurry. Or, if it is really sluggish, I flush it more aggressively- I also find that when it is about time to change the needle, the infusion can become really slow, simply changing the needle out fixes that too in my case. My port can be fussy, it actually clogged up on me once despite proper flushing protocol. I hope I have helped...Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
L

lightNlife

New member
When I'm just flushing the line (monthly) and checking for blood return, I use a 1-inch 22 gauge needle.

When I'm on IVs I use a 3/4 in. 22 gauge needle. However, there is one caveat. I <b>NEVER</b> use it for blood work anymore for 3 main reasons

1. My port is now 10 years old and the material it's made of has always caused inaccurate readings in my bloodwork. (Tobra peak and trough levels were highly skewed EVERY time)

2. Because it's old, it has developed a lot of filamentous tissue on the end of it. The nurses tend to draw back on it too heavily with the plunger syringe and that sucks that filament into the line making it seem blocked, even though it's not. Another thing that can happen if they draw too heavily is that the tubing pulls down on itself from the vacuum. It's like when you suck really hard on a straw in a thick milkshake and the straw collapses.

3. I've had nurses who have been taught in the last few years that heparin is no longer necessary to use before closing off the line. I've been in the ER twice to have "clot buster" added to my line because it got blocked by some blockhead nurse who refused to add heparin even when I insisted upon it. Because heparin is usually under lock and key with other prescriptions, some nurses can't be "bothered" to go back and go through the necessary procedure to procure 3 ccs of heparin and would rather just use saline.

I don't mind getting needle poked in my arm for labwork. My veins can usually handle that. It's when they're exposed to all those heavy duty drugs ongoing that they blow or infiltrate, which is why I use the port.


Ask your nurses who draw bloodwork to just be patient and not force it. If you've got good blood return, you're golden, even if it takes awhile to get enough return for a decent sample. Patience, patience patience. Treat it nicely and you'll be VERY glad in the long run. I sure am!

Oh, and as far as the tenderness goes, I have a stuffed animal (Dorothy) that I tuck next to me when my port is accessed to keep from rolling so far over that put pressure on the site.

Good luck!
 
L

lightNlife

New member
When I'm just flushing the line (monthly) and checking for blood return, I use a 1-inch 22 gauge needle.

When I'm on IVs I use a 3/4 in. 22 gauge needle. However, there is one caveat. I <b>NEVER</b> use it for blood work anymore for 3 main reasons

1. My port is now 10 years old and the material it's made of has always caused inaccurate readings in my bloodwork. (Tobra peak and trough levels were highly skewed EVERY time)

2. Because it's old, it has developed a lot of filamentous tissue on the end of it. The nurses tend to draw back on it too heavily with the plunger syringe and that sucks that filament into the line making it seem blocked, even though it's not. Another thing that can happen if they draw too heavily is that the tubing pulls down on itself from the vacuum. It's like when you suck really hard on a straw in a thick milkshake and the straw collapses.

3. I've had nurses who have been taught in the last few years that heparin is no longer necessary to use before closing off the line. I've been in the ER twice to have "clot buster" added to my line because it got blocked by some blockhead nurse who refused to add heparin even when I insisted upon it. Because heparin is usually under lock and key with other prescriptions, some nurses can't be "bothered" to go back and go through the necessary procedure to procure 3 ccs of heparin and would rather just use saline.

I don't mind getting needle poked in my arm for labwork. My veins can usually handle that. It's when they're exposed to all those heavy duty drugs ongoing that they blow or infiltrate, which is why I use the port.


Ask your nurses who draw bloodwork to just be patient and not force it. If you've got good blood return, you're golden, even if it takes awhile to get enough return for a decent sample. Patience, patience patience. Treat it nicely and you'll be VERY glad in the long run. I sure am!

Oh, and as far as the tenderness goes, I have a stuffed animal (Dorothy) that I tuck next to me when my port is accessed to keep from rolling so far over that put pressure on the site.

Good luck!
 
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