What is an implantable port (portacath)?
An implantable port is also known as a portacath or subcutaneous port. A thin tube called a catheter is attached to a small reservoir called a port. It can be used to give chemotherapy or medicine into a vein, or to take blood samples.
The catheter is a thin, soft, flexible tube. It is usually put in under the skin of the chest or sometimes in the arm. One end of the tube goes into a large vein just above the heart. The other end connects to the port.
The port is a small disc that goes under the skin on the upper chest or arm. You will be able to see and feel a small bump on the skin where the port is.
What is an implantable port used for?
A port can be used to give you treatments such as:
- chemotherapy
- blood transfusions
- antibiotics
- intravenous (IV) fluids.
Ports can also be used when you need to have blood tests. This means you will not need to have needles put into your arms every time you have treatment.
You can go home with the port in. It can be left in for weeks, months or, for some people, years.
A port may be useful if doctors or nurses find it difficult to get needles into your veins.