To avoid the
pain of the
needle in the same place every time, ask for a central line AKA
catheter. In this context, a
catheter is a tube threaded through a major
blood vessel all the way to just outside the
heart, making the constant problem of finding a
vein for
injection or
drawing blood trivial. A port-a-cath is especially convenient.
With a regular central line, you end up with a tube sticking out of your
skin which requires special care to prevent a serious
infection.
Showering for instance becomes a
ritualistic ordeal.
A port-a-cath once installed is simply a small button-like structure under your skin. A nurse pokes the button-like port whenever you need a
IV or a shot. You can even get a double-ported port-a-cath, which can be convenient if you need to receive chemotherapy and
IV fluids at the same time.It is important when
injections are being given that the
injection site is kept sterile, but the rest of the time you can live like everybody else.
Some forms of chemotherapy are so harsh they require a
catheter since the
chemicals will destroy small
blood vessels if injected into them directly. Also since the
chemicals are first introduced in the
heart they will be distributed evenly throughout the
body.
While the insertion of a catheter is one of the most routine procedures performed by a
surgeon, it is not without
risk. Damage to the blood vessel during insertion or removal of the device can lead to
scar tissue, which can further lead to
blood clots or closure of the vessel altogether.
Bacteria can be introduced through the catheter directly into the blood stream and can lead to a massive (even fatal)
infection.