Broken line on port

Annlyn · 07-23-2006, 05:28 AM

Has anyone had any experience of the line on a port actually breaking? A piece of the tubing on mine has broken off and is now lodged against the sinus node in the right atrium. I am seeing a cardiac surgeon in 2 days re removal.

Sheila · 07-23-2006, 06:13 AM

Annalyn

This happened to my grandaughter when they went to remove her port.(She is 9 years old)
Anyway, after meeting with the cardiac surgeons, they decided to leave the tip in, which was also lodged in the atrium. They said the risk for her was greater to remove it via open heart surgery. They had tried to remove it via cardiac cath and were unsuccessful. That was 6 months ago and she has not had any problems. They did say to monitor her for an irregular heart rhythm, and if that occurs, they would have to do open heart surgery to remove it.
Hope this helps.

Annlyn · 07-23-2006, 06:59 AM

Dear Sheila
Thank you for the swift response. I'm glad I stayed up - its 11.49pm here and well past my bedtime. Your GD's situation does sound very similiar to mine. Has she had more scans? Does the tube move around? Is the cardiac cath the thing they put in via the thigh? They have also told me to get in touch immediately if I experience an irregular heart rhythm. My understanding is that as long as the tube stays in the right atrium they will try to hook it out but if it migrates to the left it would mean open heart surgery.
Glad to hear your grandaughter is doing fine.

Annlyn

Sheila · 07-23-2006, 11:56 AM

Annlyn
Sorry I mispelled your name before. They have done 1 scan and it is still lodged...here is the tip or the port cath that broke off, and after being in for 9 yearsm tissue has grown over it. The cardiac cath was when they went through her groin area, and tried to snare it , but were unable to do it without causing a tear, thus uncontrolled bleeding. She has had no troubles so far and goes in tomorrow for round 3 of back surgery to adjust her rod and lengthen it....it may never give you a problem again...don't be surprised if they just leave it...sometimes it is the safe way to go, and then just be cautious if you develop an irregular rythym as then they may need to do something.
Hoping they can leave it alone for you and it stays right where it is...they usually are grown in with a sheath of skin over them and rarely will ever move.
Hope I've helped....by the way, I had never heard of this until it happened to my grandaughter.

Annlyn · 07-24-2006, 08:25 PM

Thanks Sheila, Didn't notice the incorrect spelling _ guess I read for meaning!

lindaw · 07-25-2006, 02:19 AM

Dear Annlyn

Yes this happened to me when I was getting a new port put in. I woke up to find it had gone into my heart. Had that thing up through the groin and they retrieved it.

love
lindaw