Removal of port

[dixie46]

Do you have to have your port surgerically removed in the operating room with anesthesia or can it be removed in a outpatient office by a surgeon with something local?

[Chelee]

I've heard it done both ways. I had my 1st port removed in the hospital. Simple procedure with local anesthesia...in and out same day.
I know of lots of other women that had them done in their surgeon's office. I actually felt better about having it done in the hospital just in case there was a problem. As far as I know it is always done as outpatient regardless of where you have it removed.

Chelee

[mmoons]

Getting mine out today. I am going to the surgical center but getting a local. In & out they said. Good luck!

[BonnieR]

Mine was installed in the surgical center under anesthesia but was removed in the surgeon's office with local. It went fine. Just some "sensation" of tugging but, really, it went smoothly. We chatted while she did it. It helped that I had taken half an Ativan!!! Keep the faith.

[Jackie07]

My first one must have been taken out under anesthesia because I don't remember a thing about it. I'm seriously thinking about getting the current one out. Will talk to my oncologist next week about it during my appointment.

[Jackie07]

Did a search on 'port removal' and found my own posting here (above). Can't believe that I ended up keeping it for another 9 months. Did not remember my posting at all because I turned down my doctor's offer both last summer and last month.

Then I thought it over and checked out some information about possible blood clot problem of the port. Now I'm scheduled to get the port out tomorrow by the surgeon - and heard that she's moving to Houston! Better get it done 'now'! Found a card and a little something for her. 8 years, that's how long we've known each other. And we like each other a lot! (Because she likes to perform surgery and I like to have surgeries? LOL!

My oncologist is going to be surprised when he learns about this. Seems I've always liked to do things 'behind' his back...

[tricia keegan]

I had mine removed with a local in the office, the only pain I felt was the local shot but otherwise just pressure

I bled for a while afterwards but think that may be unusual as they had a tough time getting it out but it was all over in half an hour!

[1rarebird]

At my 4-month check up last week, my oncologist and I discussed if now was a good time to get my port removed. With my 2-year anniversary (diagnosis based) pending (actually it was yesterday), the good doctor said I could have it out if I wanted to. I told him that my biggest problem with my port is keeping the appointments every 8-weeks for the maintenance. At times it has been a inconvenience for me, but I follow his orders. When I mentioned the hassle to him he laughed and told me about a man he once treated who ignored for 5 years having his port flushed. The man had a recurrence of his cancer (I don't know which kind) and when they tried the port, to everyone's surprise it functioned properly and the chemo infusions began with no problems. My doctor said he didn't recommend that I follow this fellow as a model, but he said that I shouldn't get too worried if I missed a port maintenance by a week or two.----- I'm still weighing the pros and cons for getting my port out.---bird

[Jackie07]

Well, my port is out! It went exactly like the video clip I watched on the Internet. Except I talked their ears off during the procedure ... Dr. Miltenburg will be practising at the Women's Hospital in Houston in a couple of weeks. She supervised a young lady to remove my port.

The only thing that was 'new' to me was that I had to be 'grounded' before (and during) the procedure. A staff actually taped a grounded wire to my thigh...

Postoperative instructions include using Tylenol or Motrin as needed for pain and no heavy lifting for 1 week.

[ljbm]

I finished my chemo 2 days before Christmas in 08 and I had my port removed 2 weeks later. I had all my stuff done at MD Anderson and removal was an outpatient procedure done in the hospital under local. They put in a couple of stitches. The whole thing didn't take ten minutes. It was a piece of cake.

[laureen]

I asked my surgeon if I could have mine after he took it out. This way I could actually show people what it looked like. They could not understand what it looked like before. He said it was unusual but he let me take it anyways. Glad all went good with yours.

[ljbm]

I, like you, asked to take mine with me. They gave it to me and after 15 months of use it looked show room new. I was a high school teacher ( I retired last year) and I took it for my students to see. They had followed my journey asking questions along the way. Even though I had showed them pictures of what a port looked like and you could see where mine was when I wore a blouse with a scoop neck, they really enjoyed seeing the actual thing. I had several students that were going on to nursing school and I thought it was a good learning experience not just for them but for all of my students.

Congrats on the blessings of life and babies!!!!!

[Jackie07]

Glad I'm just 'normal' to have asked for my old port for souvenir. The young staff hesitated, but my surgeon said 'yes' after I assured them it would go nowhere but my old, dried fish tank containing an old, dried bonsai tree and... The young staff 'cleaned' it up and rinsed it off before wrappying it with tissues and putting it in a biohazard bag.

I unwrapped it and showed it to hubby when we got home. He shaked his head - he has inherited his Dad's habit of throwing away 'junks' - they just don't understand the sentimental value of some old junk...

[tricia keegan]

I was asked if I wanted mine but refused, while it helped me during chemo I really wanted no reminders!

[msleslie]

I have 2 more herceptin treatments left so I am eagerly looking forward to scheduling an appointment to get my port removed. My surgeon has left it up to me to have it done under local anesthesia or at the hospital under general anesthesia. At this point I haven't decided which method to select. For those who elected the local in office procedure, was there any pain involved? Thanks!

[Jackie07]

Mine was done in the office with a 'local'. My surgeon 'supervised' a young resident doctor to remove my port. It probably took longer because of that - and made me a little bit uneasy. But everything went well and two nurses/technicians were left to 'irrigate' the wound/opening.

There was probably a little bit 'sting' when the shots of local anethesia were given. But there's really not much to it.

[dixie46]

I had mine removed at the surgeon's office with a local. A resident watched and did the stitch up but it was over in about 10 minutes and I have had no problems. It has been out for about 4 months. You will do fine with either decision. I admit to missing it for blood draws now but otherwise happy to not have to do maintenance every month.

[ljbm]

I had mine removed at MD Anderson where I had done all my treatments. They sent me to a nurse and it was done under a local in a clinic room. The whole thing took ten or 15 minutes. I took it back home to show all my students. It was no big deal. Good luck!!

[BonnieR]

Msleslie, good to see you!!!
My port was removed in the surgeon's office. It was not painful. She numbed it, of course, and we chatted while she did the proceedure. I just recall a slight, brief tugging sensation and then it was over. As I mentioned earlier, I had fortified myself with a bit of Ativan first! Let us know what you decide
Keep the faith.

[tricia keegan]

MSLeslie, Mine was numbed too and the only pain I felt was the shot for a few seconds but otherwise just pressure, no pain!