What procedures can use my portacath?
I have a portacath inserted for chemo. Excellent for that as my hand veins are difficult to access. I have to go for a brain MRI / MRA on Friday, does anyone know if they can use the portacath if I n...
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When I was in hospital with febrile neutropaenia, they had to take blood cultures from both my portacath, and an arm vein to check for infections as, I was told, if there was a localised infection within the portacath itself, it would confuse the issue. So, one test from port to check for infection within it, and another from arm to check for systemic infection. Technicians doing a scan with contrast, wouldn't touch it either, as "not qualified to do so". I was also admitted to my local hospital, not my treating state hospital, and was kept...wait for it...I kid you not... an extra night and until lunchtime the following day, to have it de-accessed (after being medically discharged), due to not having a qualified nurse to do the job. By this time, I had had the total sh*ts, and told them they had half an hour to find someone, or else I was going to discharge myself, IV attached to portacath, and then go with my husband to my treating hospital. Needless to say, someone pitched up twenty minutes later (from home and off duty). Sighhhhh!!!