PET Scan Question

[Yorkiegirl]

Does anyone know if they can use your port in to infuse the contrast material that need's to be done for this test?

My veins in my arm are just so shot.

[Shell]

Yes, they can. They just accessed mine yesterday for a pet/ct...

Good luck w/ things,

[tousled1]

I believe it depends upon what type of port you have. The port I had they could not use to put the contrast in, they had to use my veins which are very poor.

[Chelee]

Kate is correct....that's exactly what I've been told. The type of port I have they *cannot* access for PET/CT's. There are newer types of ports that can handle both labs and PET/CT's. Ask your onc what type you have and your port-a-cath lab at the hospital should know if yours will handle contrast. Another idea is to ask your chemo nurse...they seem to know everything...there the best. :)

Chelee

[shelli]

I just had a PET, CT's, & MRI"S. I also have bad veins/no access. I guess we are never supposed to use the affected arm of lymph node removal for B/P's or venipunctures ever again & my good arm vein got very scarred from blood draws. I asked & tried to insist on them using my port for the contrast medium in the above tests & was told NO! I believe the reasoning is PET- the contrast is a very sugary substance that can completely clog the port and make it unusable again. MRI's/CT's now often use a "high speed injector" to infuse the contrast, so they can not use the port with it for some technical reason but none of the techs. could explain why. I was more scarred of them trying to hit a vein with all of these tests than the actual tests themselves. My insurance company wouldn't allow the onco to draw my labs & I had to go to an outside lab where they couldn't draw through my port, therefore they ruined my only good vein I had & I am now scarred for life & will always have this unnecessary problem to contend with.

[Lolly]

I now have lymphedema in both arms after my most recent recurrence, so when I went in for my last battery of scans, asked each time if the contrast could be infused through my port. The Abdominal CT with Contrast tech wouldn't use my port because the "high speed injector" that Shelli mentions can, in his words "blow the catheter line", as in cause it to seperate from the port and then it would be able to travel down the vein into one's heart or lungs. Enough said. He explained I would need to have a "Power Port" placed if I wanted to be able to receive any type of injection, which I do, so I'll be looking into that this year.
The Brain MRI tech said that MRI contrast is ok to infuse in a regular port, and called in an IV nurse to do the injection which was a piece of cake.

So, some injections are ok with a normal port, some not.

<3 Lolly

[shelli]

Hi Lolly, Thanks for the info. - now I understand itl When you find out more about the Power Port please let me know. I'm curious how that works. I hope you are doing well with your new treatment. How is the Tykerb? Are you having any bad side effects from it?

[Yorkiegirl]

Thanks every one for the responses. I guess I will just go ahead and it the contrast/sugar substance done thru a vien. I sure don't want to mess up my port.

[Heart Sutra]

I have a power port and still have a hard time getting techs to use it for contrast. The power port is capable to handle contrast but techs don't feel comfortable with this. The onc. nurses will use it for my draws now but only if I have treatment at the same time (one stick) My onc. feels you have a higher risk of infection at the port site the more it's accessed.

I'm a personal trainer and you can build your vein capacity by doing bicep curls with light weights. I also try to drink a lot before any stick, as hydrated veins are plumper.

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

I Have Been Getting Pet's For Many Years, And Have Never Been Infused Through The Port.

As I Understand, This Is A Nuclear Med. So A Port Can Not Be Used.

I Never Heard Of A Power Port But Will Check Into It.

I Am Actually Having A Pet On This Friday And Will Ask About It Again.

Good Luck