I had a patient recently with a power port. He had some recent weight loss and his port protruded more than previously. It appears that one of the raised bumps on the power port was exposed through the skin. Has anyone else ever seen this and what would your reccomendations be?
I have seen pictures of this. The only thing that can be done is another surgical procedure to correct the problem. You simply can not allow this exposed port body to remain with this pocket open. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Tough not an "everyday happening"...all ports can have this issue. In placing the port, we want it deep enough to be padded and shallow enough to be accessed. I have seen this issue more with the "raised bumps" as you call them.
I am a clinician...not a rep!
Forgot to add: Agree with Lynn that port should be removed ASAP!
I had a patient that had all 3 "bumps" break through the skin very quickly after the power port was placed. Those ports were fairly new to the market at that time and it is the first one I had cared for. I read at that time it was an issue and had hope that had been "ironed" out by now. And yes, like Lynn said, it had to be replaced. Keep us posted on the outcome please. Valorie
Valorie Dunn,BSN, RN, CRNI, PLNC
This was a point made by the sales rep for a competitor of Bard's--he told me this had happened. I asked for a picture for teaching purposes. He would only give me a hard copy. But, yes, it happens. I would think cachexia would be a risk factor for this. The palpation points are quite firm . . . I wonder if Bard is trying to remedy this? or if their stance is it happens VERY infrequently so leave it alone. I have not seen this in any of my patients, but we don't implant the Bard powerport here--the patients who have it come from other facilities.