Image-Guided Port Procedure

What is a Port Placement Procedure?

A port placement, also known as a venous access device placement, is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure. During this procedure, we use imaging to place a portacatheter inside your body. The thin flexible tube, called a catheter, is positioned into a blood vessel.

A port is used to help your doctors take blood and give you medicines or IV fluids more easily. You can also use a port device for CT and MRI contrast.

You can have a port in your body for months or even years, as long as you need it for treatment.

How to Prepare for Port Placement

If you get sick or hospitalized before your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan ahead.

• When to Arrive - Please arrive 30 minutes before your procedure appointment time.
• Eating - Please do not eat solid foods, candy or gum after 10:00 pm on the night before your procedure. We may need to reschedule your procedure if you do.
• Drinking - Please drink only clear liquids after 10:00 pm on the night before your procedure. Stay hydrated by drinking one or two tall glasses every one to two hours while you are awake. Please stop drinking anything three hours before your procedure.
• Medications - Please take your regularly scheduled medications with a sip of water. If you are currently taking any anti-coagulation medications, such as Coumadin®, Eliquis® or Plavix®, please call your referring physician for holding instructions at least five days before your procedure.
• Pregnancy - Please let us know if there is any possibility you could be pregnant before undergoing your procedure.
  
  Click here to learn more about how to prepare for your port placement.

What Happens After Port Placement?

Over the next few days after your procedure, the area around the port may feel sore. You can take over-the-counter pain medication for any discomfort.

You can shower 48 hours after your procedure. Do not lift anything over 10 pounds for 7 days. Your team will go over more instructions about caring for your port. Your doctor will follow up with you directly about your condition once the port is in place.