When does a doctor typically decide to put a port in instead of a PICC? My son Austin is 6 and has had a picc line everyyear since he was diagnosed at 7 months. I have had different nurses and RT ask if he had a port and I didn't really know what they were talking about. At least until I came to this site. I have seen on here different ages having them in also. So I am assuming there is no majic age that they recommend getting one.
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Who decides Port or PICC?
- Thread starter pnhuffman
- Start date
When does a doctor typically decide to put a port in instead of a PICC? My son Austin is 6 and has had a picc line everyyear since he was diagnosed at 7 months. I have had different nurses and RT ask if he had a port and I didn't really know what they were talking about. At least until I came to this site. I have seen on here different ages having them in also. So I am assuming there is no majic age that they recommend getting one.
When does a doctor typically decide to put a port in instead of a PICC? My son Austin is 6 and has had a picc line everyyear since he was diagnosed at 7 months. I have had different nurses and RT ask if he had a port and I didn't really know what they were talking about. At least until I came to this site. I have seen on here different ages having them in also. So I am assuming there is no majic age that they recommend getting one.
When does a doctor typically decide to put a port in instead of a PICC? My son Austin is 6 and has had a picc line everyyear since he was diagnosed at 7 months. I have had different nurses and RT ask if he had a port and I didn't really know what they were talking about. At least until I came to this site. I have seen on here different ages having them in also. So I am assuming there is no majic age that they recommend getting one.
When does a doctor typically decide to put a port in instead of a PICC? My son Austin is 6 and has had a picc line everyyear since he was diagnosed at 7 months. I have had different nurses and RT ask if he had a port and I didn't really know what they were talking about. At least until I came to this site. I have seen on here different ages having them in also. So I am assuming there is no majic age that they recommend getting one.
Emily65Roses
New member
You have some say in it, but they tend to like doing PICCs until it's not really an option, because a port is more permanent. I got mine at 18, after having had only 3 rounds of IVs. But this was because PICCs only gave me trouble. Every line I had was pulled before the meds were done because I got phlebitis (irritation of the vein, causing the line to be pretty useless).
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
Emily65Roses
New member
You have some say in it, but they tend to like doing PICCs until it's not really an option, because a port is more permanent. I got mine at 18, after having had only 3 rounds of IVs. But this was because PICCs only gave me trouble. Every line I had was pulled before the meds were done because I got phlebitis (irritation of the vein, causing the line to be pretty useless).
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
Emily65Roses
New member
You have some say in it, but they tend to like doing PICCs until it's not really an option, because a port is more permanent. I got mine at 18, after having had only 3 rounds of IVs. But this was because PICCs only gave me trouble. Every line I had was pulled before the meds were done because I got phlebitis (irritation of the vein, causing the line to be pretty useless).
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
Emily65Roses
New member
You have some say in it, but they tend to like doing PICCs until it's not really an option, because a port is more permanent. I got mine at 18, after having had only 3 rounds of IVs. But this was because PICCs only gave me trouble. Every line I had was pulled before the meds were done because I got phlebitis (irritation of the vein, causing the line to be pretty useless).
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
Emily65Roses
New member
You have some say in it, but they tend to like doing PICCs until it's not really an option, because a port is more permanent. I got mine at 18, after having had only 3 rounds of IVs. But this was because PICCs only gave me trouble. Every line I had was pulled before the meds were done because I got phlebitis (irritation of the vein, causing the line to be pretty useless).
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
If you think it's about time and you'd really rather look at a port, ask people. If they don't know what you're talking about, run the hell away. Any nurse who doesn't know what a port is frightens me. That's like asking a nurse about an IV and having them go "Huh? What's that?" Frickin ridiculous. In short, if you ask about it, and they don't know, go to someone else. If the new one doesn't know, go to someone else. Just keep moving on until you find someone who knows. It's a common enough medical device, you WILL find someone who knows what it is.
The one thing to keep in mind with a port is that it can get in the way (sometimes -- contact sports is one of the ones it lists, I believe), and it requires accessing once a month, whether you're using it or not. It has to be flushed with Heparin, to make sure the line doesn't clot. Once a month, every month.
I just wanted to point those out. Having said that, I would recommend a port without a second thought. I LOVE mine, and it's totally worth the little bit of permanence and maintenance it requires.
I was just wondering! And to clarify something i said in the previous post. The nurses and RT only asked me when they were doing their routine questions. And the RT when they were hooking him up to his vest.
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
I was just wondering! And to clarify something i said in the previous post. The nurses and RT only asked me when they were doing their routine questions. And the RT when they were hooking him up to his vest.
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
I was just wondering! And to clarify something i said in the previous post. The nurses and RT only asked me when they were doing their routine questions. And the RT when they were hooking him up to his vest.
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
I was just wondering! And to clarify something i said in the previous post. The nurses and RT only asked me when they were doing their routine questions. And the RT when they were hooking him up to his vest.
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
I was just wondering! And to clarify something i said in the previous post. The nurses and RT only asked me when they were doing their routine questions. And the RT when they were hooking him up to his vest.
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
Also I wonder if they see his shunt tubing going across his chest or something. He has a shunt in his head that goes across his neck and across his chest and drains into his tummy.
And with his Arnold Chiari malformation and the shunt he is not going to be able to play contact sports when he is older. He can play baseball and golf or something like that. I am confused though about the contact sports thingy with him and i will check that out when he sees his neurologist. One time they said no soccer until he learns to head butt the ball and then the doctor says he can. Confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He just has too many different things going on with him I should just keep him in a plastic bubble. LOL
lightNlife
New member
I got a port when I was no longer a candidate for PICC lines. My veins had sclerosed (gotten scarred) so much from frequent PICC lines, that they couldn't get one into me anymore. I was 17 when I had the port placed.
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
lightNlife
New member
I got a port when I was no longer a candidate for PICC lines. My veins had sclerosed (gotten scarred) so much from frequent PICC lines, that they couldn't get one into me anymore. I was 17 when I had the port placed.
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
lightNlife
New member
I got a port when I was no longer a candidate for PICC lines. My veins had sclerosed (gotten scarred) so much from frequent PICC lines, that they couldn't get one into me anymore. I was 17 when I had the port placed.
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
lightNlife
New member
I got a port when I was no longer a candidate for PICC lines. My veins had sclerosed (gotten scarred) so much from frequent PICC lines, that they couldn't get one into me anymore. I was 17 when I had the port placed.
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
lightNlife
New member
I got a port when I was no longer a candidate for PICC lines. My veins had sclerosed (gotten scarred) so much from frequent PICC lines, that they couldn't get one into me anymore. I was 17 when I had the port placed.
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>
The advantage to having a Port put in sooner rather than later, is that the recovery time is faster from the procedure. It's an outpatient procedure, but if someone is already hospitalized for an exacerbation, they are already in a weakened state, so the whole thing is just a little harder on the body.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if your son has one placed while he is young, he may "outgrow" it. It's not uncommon for people who've had ports placed when they were young to find that it has become detached, or that the catheter is no longer the appropriate length to extend all the way into the heart. Just something to consider.
If you'd like to see pictures of what the device actually looks like, you can visit my blog:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port">http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/search?q=port</a>