Capital Region Health Park
711 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Suite 113
Latham, New York 12110

(518) 262-5149

Gary Siskin, MD
Meridith Englander, MD
Kenneth Mandato, MD
Allen Herr, MD
Gail Sansivero, ANP
Nancy Mitchell, FNP
Christopher Doti, FNP
Sharon Ryan, LPN

Discharge Port

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS: PORT PLACEMENT

You have just had a vascular access device placed called a port.  This device is placed under the skin and can be accessed with a needle by the nurses and doctors taking care of you in order to administer medications or draw blood.

1. Take off the original dressing (bandages) in 48 hours.  Put on a dry sterile dressing using gauze and tape or a large (about 3 inches square) band-aid.  Change this dressing every day until your stitches are removed.  It is normal to have a small amount of bloody drainage on the original dressing.
   
   
2. Keep the port and neck sites dry for at least one week.  You may shower after 48 hours, but you will need to cover the bandages with plastic wrap first.  Any food wrap (such as Saran Wrap) will work.  Simply cover the bandages with plastic and seal the edges with tape.  It is a good idea to change your bandage after your shower.
   
   
3. If your stitches do not need to be removed (that is, they will be absorbed by your body), the doctors and nurses will let you know.  If your stitches do need to be removed, you should have received an appointment for removal before your discharge from the hospital.  If you are unsure of the type of stitches you received please call our office at (518) 262-5149 or (518) 262-4008 and speak with one of our Nurse Practitioners.
   
   
4. The port and neck site will be sore for several days.  Do not lift anything heavy during this time.  You may want to take some pain medicine for relief.  If you do not already have some at home, we will give you a prescription.
   
   
5. You may have a prescription for a numbing cream called Emla.  Put this on the port site one hour before your first treatment using the port.  The directions will be on the box containing the cream.
   
   
6. Please call our office at (518) 262-5149 or (518) 262-4008 if you experience any of the following problems.  After hours, you can call (518) 262-3125 and ask to speak with the interventional radiologist on call.

• Fever greater than 100 degrees
• Excessive bleeding or redness at the port or neck site
• Pain that is not controlled with medicine
• Vomiting that will not stop

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