289913518_10158788440853549_8690417897997697847_n power-port-placement.jpg

Mayo stand and back table instruments for Power Port Placement surgery setup

Clamping & Occluding

  • Curved Hemostat

    Curved Hemostat

  • Tonsil Clamp

    Tonsil Clamp

Cutting & Dissecting

  • #3 Knife Handle

    #3 Knife Handle

  • Metzenbaum Scissor

    Metzenbaum Scissor

  • Straight Mayo Scissor

    Straight Mayo Scissor

Grasping & Holding

  • Adson Forceps

    Adson Forceps

  • Debakey Forceps

    Debakey Forceps

Retracting & Exposing

  • Freer Skin Hook

    Freer Skin Hook

  • Weitlaner Retractor

    Weitlaner Retractor

  • Army-Navy Retractor

    Army-Navy Retractor

  • Senn Retractor

    Senn Retractor

Suturing & Stapling

  • Ryder Needle Holder

    Ryder Needle Holder

  • Mayo-Hegar Needle Holder

    Mayo-Hegar Needle Holder

What to expect during Power Port Placement

A Power Port Placement surgery involves the placement of a device called a port, which allows for the easy and efficient delivery of medication, chemotherapy, or other fluids directly into the bloodstream. The procedure involves creating a pathway from a vein in the neck to a pocket under the skin, where the port will be placed. The surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia and takes about an hour to complete.

Step 1: Identifying the Jugular Vein
During a Power Port Placement surgery, the doctor will first use a needle from the power port kit to identify the jugular vein. In some cases, ultrasound may be needed, in which case a probe cover should be available.

Step 2: Ensuring Proper Placement with C-Arm
Once the vein is identified, the doctor will use the guide wire from the kit to make a path for the catheter. To ensure proper placement, a C-arm will be used, which means that you will need to wear X-ray lead during the surgery.

Step 3: Making the Incision and Forming a Pocket
Next, the doctor will use a 15 blade to make an incision below the collarbone. Then, a small pocket will be formed under the skin for the port to sit in. During this step, the following instruments may be used: bovie, metz, adsons, debakeys, and hemostats.

Step 4: Creating a Pathway for the Catheter
The long metal tunneler in the kit will be used to make a pathway from the incision to the site where the wire was placed before in the neck. The port will then be attached to the catheter and will need to be primed with a heparin flush. The catheter will be attached to the tunneler and pulled back through, so the port is now sitting in its “pocket”.

Step 5: Ensuring Correct Placement with C-Arm (Again)
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.

Step 6: Skin Closure and Dressing
Finally, skin closure will begin, and usually, derma bond is used for the dressing. Congratulations, you have successfully assisted with a Power Port Placement surgery!

The Surgery Sparknotes

  1. Identify the jugular vein with a needle from the power port kit. Use ultrasound if necessary.
  2. Use the guide wire to create a path for the catheter.
  3. Wear X-ray lead and use the C-arm to ensure proper placement.
  4. Make an incision below the collarbone and form a pocket for the port.
  5. Create a pathway for the catheter using the tunneler in the kit. Attach the port to the catheter and prime with heparin flush.
  6. Use the tunneler to pull the catheter back through to the port’s pocket. Ensure correct placement with C-arm again.
  7. Close the skin with derma bond.
Setup options: Login to see options

2 thoughts on “Power Port Placement

  1. carrmommyof3 says:

    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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 256 MB. You can upload: image, audio. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here