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When to Remove Chemo Port Dressings?

There are more than 100 different types of medications used for chemotherapy, with no one certain drug designated to treat any one type of cancer. Medical professionals often treat cancers with a combination of chemo drugs. Chemo is often administered intravenously. Many patients have a port put in so the chemo can be administered through this port, instead of requiring a new vein each time. When a patient has a port implanted, dressings or bandages are applied to protect the area.

  1. Use of Chemo Ports

    • Chemo medications can be administered through many different avenues. The most common way is through IV or through a catheter. Typically, when chemo is administered via a catheter, it is administered through a device called a port a cath or port. This is a device that consists of two parts. One part is a small rubber stopper-like device and from this device extends a small rubber tube called the catheter. The port is placed completely under the skin through a surgical procedure and the only evidence of the port is a small bump where the port was placed.

    Removal of Port Dressings

    • Once the port is put in place, it will not be used for a couple of days until it is completely healed. Immediately following the outpatient surgical procedure used to install the port, dressings will be applied. The port dressing will need to remain in place for only a few days and the stitches will be removed a few days after the dressing removal, after the wound has been given time to heal.

    Port Dressing Care

    • No additional dressing is necessary to keep the port clean after the initial surgery. The only maintenance requirements involve flushing the port every four to six weeks. This will generally be taken care of by the medical staff that is administering your chemo treatment.

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