Anyone have both a Pacemaker and a Port

By Port i mean like PortACath and other brands. Just under your skin and offers direct vein access. Guarenteed IV access every time with one small stick.

My docs want me to discuss this option with a surgeon this week.

I'm only 34, my pacer is for syncope and has been in for 1 year.

The reason for the port is a combo of blood draws ever 4th week, IV iron treatments sometimes as often as every 3 weeks, my current veins are pretty shot (try 12 sticks last time they tried).

They want to give my veins a rest and not blow them ALL for dire emergencies (paramedics do NOT have permission to access Ports.. they would have to do a regular IV till you got to the ER).
So unlike those with cancer, who have them removed after treatment... mine would probably stay in as long as it was working correctly.

I'd love to hear of others experiences. I'm working on a detailed list of clarification questions I want the surgeon to address.

4 Comments

Ports

by fishfighter - 2013-05-10 05:05:58

Myself, I have lived with a hickman for 16 months. In that time, I had to have it replaced 5 times due to infections.

Bad side is, the area can not get wet ever. Caring for it is a big PITA! I know the feeling of getting stuck by IV's. My veins blow out all the time. It takes 5 to times sticking me just to get one started. If I had the choice of a port, I still would not go with one.

Good luck and God Bless,
Paul

Risks

by golden_snitch - 2013-05-10 09:05:46

Hi!

I don't have both, only a pacemaker. But what came into my mind when I read your question was: That port will mean an additional foreign object in your veins. If the port catheter and the pacemaker leads run through the same vein, for instance the superior vena cava, then the risk of thrombosis/stenosis caused by them will be greater. I remember reading about cases when even a port alone caused superior vena cava syndrome (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21599752). So, if I were you I'd try to avoid having an additional risk factor for vein stenosis/thrombosis put in as long as possible. I mean, there are of course patients here who have three, four or even five pacemaker leads in one vein, but never had issues with blood clots. Nevertheless, it's a risk factor, and the more "stuff" you put into a vein, the greater the risk.

Furthermore, a port can become infected, and the port catheter itself can be blocked with blood clots and tissue growth.

Definitely sounds nice not to have the veins accessed any longer, but with all those risks I'm not sure that the "cost-benefit-balance" is given. Difficult decision to make. Hope you get all your questions clarified.

Good luck!

Inga



surgery on the 24th

by JustKrs - 2013-05-12 10:05:06

So we decided to go with a PowerPort, and between the port and the vein will be a Groshog.
http://powerportadvantage.com/about.html

PowerPorts are different than hickman's because its ALL under the skin just like our pacemakers are. So as soon as the wound heals its life as usual.
And the Groshog has a special valve on it which means unlike some other ports I will not need to deal with any heparin or be concerned about clots inthe port vessel itself.

It will also be implanted on my right, while my pacer is on my left. So it will not be using the exact same vein location.

I'm a really hard stick, and already have visable scars from the number of times they have tried and failed to stick me over the last 4 years of illness.

Through the port they will be able to take blood, as well as give me anything I could need via an IV from fluids to my iron treatments, to anything else that comes up.

The docs said that with my otherwise decent health, they would expect i could have my port for around 5 years. Giving my veins and skin some much needed rest!

Like pacers for most of us... its totally outpatient, sometimes done under local only (i was consious sedation for my pacer).
I scheduled it for a Friday to give myself a few days to rest before I feel pressure to work.

Port

by swimmer212 - 2013-05-14 04:05:46

I have a port and another battery placed on the other side of my chest. I know pacemakers can be placed on either side of the chest. I'm getting my first pacemaker implanted tomorrow. It will be placed under my left breast.

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