Ports & Catheters

Ports, catheters, and PICC lines provide a safe and reliable way to receive ongoing treatments without the need for frequent needle sticks. These devices are commonly used for long-term intravenous medications, chemotherapy, dialysis, nutrition support, blood draws, and other therapies that require consistent access to the bloodstream. They also help patients who have difficulty swallowing or require specialized medical care.

Port Placements

An implanted port is a small medical device placed under the skin to provide reliable IV access for treatments such as chemotherapy, long-term medications, or blood draws. It sits just beneath the surface of the chest and can stay in place for several months to several years, depending on your treatment needs. Because the port is fully implanted, it requires less daily care and allows for greater comfort and mobility.

Preparation: Port placement is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia and the skin where catheter will be inserted is numbed. 

Placement: A thin needle is used to access the vein, and a guidewire is carefully advanced under X-ray (fluoroscopic) guidance to the correct position. A small incision is then made in the upper chest to create a subcutaneous pocket for the port. The port is placed inside this pocket, and the catheter attached to it is tunneled just beneath the skin to the vein entry site. The catheter is then advanced into the vein and positioned using live X-ray imaging.

Completion: Once the port and catheter are in the correct position, the incision is closed with absorbable sutures and covered with medical skin glue. The port is ready to use immediately after placement. The entire procedure typically takes about 15–30 minutes.

Recovery: Because this is a minimally invasive procedure, most patients return home shortly afterward. Mild soreness at the incision site is common for a day or two and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients can resume normal daily activities within 24 hours.