Question About Port Removal

[Sheila]

Just wondering if anyone out there has had a problem with port removal. Yesterday my grandaughter went in for her second back surgery to lengthen the rod. They decided to remove her port at the same time as it was not functioning (it has been in for 7 years). Anyway, during removal, the tip broke off, and they could not remove it. They kept her on a vent, took her to the cath lab where they tried to remove it by threading a snare up through the femoral vein. They removed a portion, but the tip is still lodged in the vena cava. Seems a sheath formed over it. She remains in intensive care until the cardiologists decide today whether or not they will open her chest to retrieve it, attempt another femoral vein snare (with risk of tearing the vena cava), or just leave it in and hope nothing happens like it becomes dislodged. Needless to say it was a sleepless night for me. She has endured more in 9 years than most will ever know. Keep her in your prayers.

[AlaskaAngel]

Sheila, I can't answer that and can only say that your caring and rational post caught my heart. We like to think that medical people have all the important answers, but try as they might there are times when they too have to just do the best they can to deal with the situation.

Your post also is helpful to me personally, since I kept my port in since 2002 even though I am NED, because of the possible option of Herceptin, so I am more conscious that there can be some problems with doing that.

Hoping the best for your granddaughter and you,

AlaskaAngel

[StephN]

Dear Sheila -
I am definitely saying a special prayer for Jasmine as she lays in the hospital waiting for yet another attempt to help her. Sleepless must be an understatement in this situation. Poor thing having to have her back opened and now possibly her little sternum.

There have been a small number of posters on this board over the years who had strouble with their port and I know one from my clinic where the tube broke off, but they were able to get it out with less drastic measures.

Hang in there as you always do for your dear little one.

[RhondaH]

I just said a prayer for her.

Rhonda