Mayo stand and back table instruments for Power Port Placement surgery setupClamping & Occluding
Cutting & Dissecting
Grasping & Holding
Retracting & Exposing
Suturing & Stapling
What to expect during Power Port Placement
The doctor will use a needle that comes in the power port kit to identify the jugular vein. They might need ultrasound for this so a probe cover should be available. They will then use the guide wire in the kit to to make a path for the catheter.
C-arm will be used to ensure the correct placement, so you will need to wear x-ray lead for this surgery.
The doctor will use a 15 blade to make an incision below the collarbone. A small pocket will be formed under the skin for the port to sit in. A bovie, metz, adsons, debakeys, and hemostats may be used.
The long metal tunneler in the kit will be used next to make a pathway from the incision, to the site they put the wire before in the neck. The port will then be attached to the catheter, and will need to be primed with a heparin flush. They will then attach the catheter to the tunneler, and pull it back through, so the port is now sitting in its “pocket”. The sheath in the kit will now be put over the wire, and the catheter will be fed through into the correct place. C-arm will be used again to ensure proper placement.
Skin closure will then begin, and usually derma bond is used for the dressing.
I love powerport placements!
I love doing power ports. Everyone does them a little differently, but they’re pretty quick & easy to do. Just don’t try handing the doctor the heparin without the hypodermic needle LOL. She was like, “What am I going to do with this?” She got a good laugh out of it though.