How long can a portacath be implanted?

Answer 1

A portacath is for long term meds, like chemotherapy which can do harm to your veins.

When I had mine, doc said it could stay in up to 5 years, but must be flushed regularly, like at least once a month by your doc.

http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port-a-Cath

• I have a portacath, I had one implanted in me when I was 3 years old and had to have it replaced when I was 10, due to growth, but the port itself was fine. I have had the second one for 10 years now.

When my porta-cath was put in I was told that they have some (albeit rare) cases where people have had them in for several years (even up to 10 yrs). The important thing to remember is to a) keep it clean and b) keep it running. Usually they are only changed if a fibrane sheeth grows over the port or if the actual port brakes. The fibrane sheet is the main reason for them to be changed out. It is a layer of fibers that the bloodstream create. You can kindda compare it to a blood clot but not as dangerous. Usually that's why they flush your porta-cath every few weeks. They can give you a few different things to avoid these sheeths and worse comes to worse they can try to unclog it with a TPA treatment (its what they give people who are having strokes. It breaks up the clots). Good luck with your porta-cath. I know it was the best thing that ever happened to me.