Chemoport is a vascular access device which helps in administering chemotherapy with relative ease. The port device is anchored to the upper part of the chest and the catheter is usually placed in either the IJV or subclavian vein.
Advantages of a port:
- Needle is inserted in the port system and not the vein. This avoid puncturing of the vein and complications like thrombophlebitis, which are very common in patients where chemotherapy is given through a peripheral line.
- In many patients it is difficult to insert an IV line as their veins are either very thin or deep seated.
- Chemotherapy medications can sometimes extravasate through a peripheral IV line (cannula) and cause permanent damage to the tissue and skin. Such events are very rare with a port.
Chemoports can be kept for 2-3 years and they are quite handy in patients who require prolonged chemotherapy sessions.
Disadvantages of a port:
- Chemoport should be flushed every four- five weeks to prevent it from getting blocked
- As it is a foreign body, risk of infection is present