Topic: Any had someone ruin their port at the Hospital?
springshowers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19863
posted
I am nervous now. I read about ports before i got one and it said how important it was not to go in crooked and it could ruin the port.
At the hospital the darn dude nurse tried to access my port and went in crooked and then tried it again. The second time he could not get it to flow. So he gave up and called another nurse and we just went into my arm vein.
I see big red mark on my skin and can see where he went in Very Crooked. I will not have access to try to see if it is working until Tuesday or Wedneday.
But I am nervous. I will be angry if it is messed up.
He was really shaky and nervous and after two tries it was him who asked if I wanted someone else... I mean i was about to ask myself and he asked himself to get someone else. UGGHHH
I think they have so many on the job training going on at the ER> I also have something go weird there...
Why they use the ER For so much trainingg is beyond me. It is an important place because you are in distress and in emergency situations.
I guess its because you get the most experiences out of little time as opposed to dooctors office etc.
but hey. what about us?
Grrrr
Posts: 2747 | From Unites States Of America | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
a nurse who does not have exp in port access is NOT to preform the procedure without another nurse there to assist.. in teaching situations.
so.. if he did not know what was doing that is negligence. i have had to get help when i started out. believe me, first time had to pull central line in someones house dang straight another nurse was with me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
would have them get surj. to look at it. also, can have charge nurse come in, tell that person what happened show ur port, and ask for surj consult to look at it
hope that helps!
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
oh, and will say most ER wont use a port. afraid to mess it up. act like it the plauge.
port needles are at a 90 degree angle. so, not sure about going in crooked?? the needle itlsef is bent, that allows it to go into the port. when port is accessed should be good blood return. and needs to be flushed according to what ur surj. said the protocol was.
older ports pretty much monthly, but newer ones like i have flush more often and more heprin to hep lock em.
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i'd be terrified.
i went to the er one time and this yo-yo put in an iv. i told it hurt. i was staring at the ceiling. he tried about twice and said there i have it.
i started crying it hurt so bad and he told me to "quit being such a baby".
he left and i looked down and the blood was running off my fingertips.
i rang for the nurse and told her "i don't care what you do, get that damn thing out and don't try again."
when the doctor came in, he told me to "quit being difficult". i almost said "s___ you".
i'm sure others have stories just as bad. i'm scared to death of er's anymore.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
OMG, randibear, I can't believe how rude they were to you. How awful and mean. I've had mean doctors and nurses "care" for me, too.
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
A home health nurse ruined my family member's port. It had been in place less than a month.
We learned the hard way this nurse was not experienced with ports. After the needle was placed the nurse pinned my family member in a chair against a wall, and attempted to shove the needle deeper into the port, pressing the port (and chest!) with great force three times. The nurse was convinced the needle must lie flat against the skin, but she was WRONG.
One week later we realized what happened when the nurse shoved the needle so forcefully. The needle should come straight out with little resistance. After many tears, and three attempts to remove the needle we saw why the needle didn't come out easily. The beveled end of the needle was bent into a perfect tiny fish hook shape. This is not the normal bend the needle is supposed to have. The fish-hook shaped needle tip tore through the port diaphragm and through the overlying tissue. The needle tip was lying parallel, but facing the opposite direction of the rest of the needle.
I was afraid the diaphragm had torn. An ER doctor said the only the port could be tested was to remove it. He was clearly uninformed about port care. If you have a port question, ask the head nurse at a cancer treatment center. There is always someone on call 24/7.
If you ever have a problem or suspected problem with your port, see an interventional radiologist for a dye study to assess the port. This type radiologist is found in a regular hospital.
The port eventually had to be removed.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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