Daily access of implanted venous ports. Implications for patient education

The implanted venous access port was originally developed for occasional use in the oncology patient. Patients who were candidates for externally accessed, long-term silastic catheters are having ports implanted for daily use for therapies such as total parenteral nutrition. Implanted venous access ports require careful patient selection and education. The patient must be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the port before it is implanted. This article discusses the implications of daily access of the implanted port and educational considerations when patient accessing is taught.