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Infusaport Removal in Interventional Radiology HF#6633



You have been scheduled to have your port removed in the Interventional Radiology (IR) Department at UW Hospital and Clinics 600 Highland Ave., Madison WI on:

           

 Date___________________   Time_______

 

                        Report to: G3/3 Radiology Atrium Waiting Area

 

The phone number to cancel or reschedule is 608-263-XRAY (9729). EXT #4.

 

Please bring this handout with you on the day your port is removed along with any questions you may have.  A nurse will have called you and talked about your procedure.  Please follow all instructions to avoid having your procedure postponed.

 

How Do I Prepare

 

  • Let the nurse know if you are taking Coumadin®, aspirin, Plavix®, anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil®, Motrin®), Vitamin E, or herbs. We will speak with your doctor to decide if you should stop them.  These blood thinners may cause more bleeding.  You may restart them 1 day after your port is removed.
  • Do not eat any solid food for 6 hours nor drink any liquids for 4 hours before your port is removed.
  • If you are taking insulin we will need to know what kind you take in order to instruct you on how much to take the morning of the biopsy.(Most often, if you normally take long acting insulin in the morning, you should take ½ the dose on the morning of the biopsy. Also, if you normally take short acting insulin in the morning, most often you should take no short acting insulin). We will check your blood sugar when you arrive.
  • You may take any of your other prescribed medicine the morning of your port removal with a sip of water.
  • Bring all of your prescribed medicines with you.  This includes inhalers, insulin, pain medicines, or other drugs.  Please tell the nurse about the medicines you have taken.
  • Leave valuables at home.  There is a locked closet in your room but we ask that you do not bring any valuables with you.

 

Checking Into the Radiology Waiting Area

 

Plan to stay for at least 4-6 hours.

 

Once you have checked into the G3/3 waiting area a nurse will walk you back to the Radiology Prep Hold area for a brief workup.  The work up will include these steps.

  • Asking questions about your health history
  • Getting baseline vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, etc)
  • Placement of an IV that can be used for blood draws, fluids, antibiotics, and pain medicine, or sedation as needed
  • The doctor will discuss the procedure with you and give you a consent form to sign if you agree.

 

How the Port Is Removed

 

You will be transferred on a cart to the IR procedure room.

 

  • A nurse will check your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.  You will be given medicines to help you relax and help with any pain. (See IV Sedation Below).

 

  • The technologist will prepare your skin with sterile soap.  A sterile drape will be placed over your body.  The drape is made into a tent so that it does not lie on your face.  Cool air will flow under the drape through a piece of tubing.  There is a clear plastic portion of the drape so that you can talk with the nurse in the room.

 

  • The doctor will numb the site with lidocaine and make a small incision near the port. Then the port and attached tubing will be removed.  All of this is done under the guidance of fluoroscopy (real time x-ray seen on a TV screen).  Once the port has been removed the port pocket will be closed with a few stitches.

 

Before you leave the room the nurse will place a dressing on the site.  An appointment will also be made for 7 – 10 days later to have your site checked by a nurse.

 

Medicine Given During the Procedure

 

IV sedation is given through your IV during the procedure.  This medicine helps you relax and control any pain you may have.  You may fall asleep but you will wake up quickly when the nurse or technologist talks to you.  You will not be “knocked out” or unconscious, but you may not be able to recall parts of the procedure.  This is referred to as ‘moderate sedation’.  The amount of IV medicine you get will depend on your health status and how well you can lie still.

 

You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home if you receive IV sedation.  You will not be allowed to leave alone or drive yourself home.  Side effects are few, but you may feel drowsy for the rest of the day.

 

At home, for the first 12 hours after your IV sedation:

 

  • You will need to have someone stay with you.
  • Do not return to work.
  • Do not drive a car or run any machinery.
  • Do not drink alcohol.
  • Do not make any important decisions or sign legal papers.
  • Do not do any exercise such as swimming, biking etc.

 

After The Procedure

 

  • You will be transferred back to the prep hold room where the nurse will check your port site, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing as ordered by your doctor.  
  • You must stay in bed for one hour after you return to your room.
  • A food tray will be ordered for you within an hour after you return to your room.  This may depend on how awake you are after your procedure.
  • The nurse will give you a card with your return visit for 7 – 10 days later.  At that time, you will have your site checked and have your stitches removed by the nurse.
  • The doctor and nurse will discharge you when they feel it is safe for you to leave and your discharge instructions have been reviewed with you.  

 

Site Care

 

  • You may shower with the site covered.  Avoid soaking the incision in water (no tub baths or swimming until healed).
  • Do not do activities that pull on the incision.  You will most likely have stitches that dissolve with a few steri-strips (white pieces of tape) over them.  They will fall off in about 5 days.  Do not pull them off.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing for a few days.
  • Plan for rest, but also move around the house as much as you can.  You can resume your normal routine when you feel ready.
  • Do not drive while you are taking narcotic pain pills.
  • Do not do heavy lifting or strenuous upper body movement for 1 week.
  • It is normal to have small areas of bruising.
  • Check your incision daily for signs and symptoms of infection: increased redness or swelling, red or hot incision, foul smelling drainage, or a fever over 100°F.

When to Call the Doctor

 

  • Fever over 100° F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart
  • Excess swelling
  • Increased redness at incision site
  • Bleeding or pus from incision
  • Increase in pain

Phone Numbers

 

If you have any questions or problems once you are at home, call the Radiology Department (608) 263-8355 Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

 

After hours, weekends, and holidays, this number will be answered by the paging operator.  Ask for the Interventional Radiologist on call.  Leave your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area, please call 1-800-323-8942.

 

My doctor today was______________________________.

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 07/30/2010

Copyright © 07/30/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6633

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