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Accessing an implanted port and administering factor

Patient information A-Z

This leaflet is for parents and patients who are learning to access an implanted port and administer factor using a sterile technique.

Equipment required

Plastic tray

Sharps bin

Dressing pack

1 pair of sterile gloves

2 x sterile clinell wipe

1 x chloraprep stick

Port needle: size - _________

Needleless bung

2 x 10ml syringes

1 x needle

2 x 0.9% saline prefilled sterile syringe 10mls

Heparinised saline (Hepsal) __ x _______

Equipment to make up factor concentrate including syringe

Dressing if leaving the port accessed

Procedure

  1. Collect together equipment required, including the sharps bin. Check that all supplies are in date and not damaged. Ensure that you will be undisturbed.
  2. Wash hands with liquid soap and dry with a paper towel.
  3. Wash plastic tray/preparation surface with washing up liquid or liquid soap and dampened paper towel. Dry with a clean paper towel.
  4. Clean the tops of the heparinised saline and factor vials with a clinell wipe and leave to dry for 30 seconds.
  5. Break off the top of the hepsal vial. Make up factor as previously shown.
  6. Open the dressing pack onto the tray being careful to only touch the underside of the paper. If required, place hand into the waste bag and use the sterile surface to allow you to organise the contents of the dressing pack and to remove sterile gloves and place them on the side.
  7. Peel open 2x 10ml syringes, filter needle, 2 saline syringes, port needle, needleless bung, chloraprep and place them onto the sterile paper without touching them.
  8. Wash hands again as above and put on the sterile gloves, included in the pack, being careful to only touch the inside of the gloves with your bare hands.
  9. Attach the needleless bung to the port needle set, attach a saline syringe and flush through until the set is primed. Remove the syringe.
  10. Join together the syringes and filter needle, being careful not to touch the head of either item.
  11. Draw up ................... mls of heparinised saline without touching the vial. Remove the needle from the syringe and place straight into the sharps bin being careful not to touch the tip of the syringe or the sharps bin.
  12. Organise your syringes on your sterile field in the order you will use them. i.e 1x saline, 1x factor, 1x saline, 1x hepsal
  13. Draw up factor as previously taught; place it on the tray turning that syringe upside down so that it is easily identifiable.
  14. Activate the Chloraprep stick and clean the area over and around the port using a crosshatch technique. Ensure skin is cleaned with an ‘agitated’ movement NOT ‘wipe over action’. Allow the skin to dry for at least 30 seconds. Make sure the area of clean skin is wider than the actual indwelling port site.
  15. Using the dominant hand hold the port as previously shown ensuring that the needleless bung and clamp are curled up in your hand.
  16. Using the non-dominant hand to locate the sides of the port, insert the needle straight into the site using the dominant hand.
  17. Once the port needle is in continue to hold the needleless bung in the non- dominant hand. Attach the saline syringe back onto the needleless bung, being careful not to contaminate the part of the needleless bung where the syringe is attached. Pull back until you see a flashback of blood in the giving set. Flush with 5-10mls of saline.
  18. Administer the factor.
  19. Flush the set with 10mls saline using a pulsing motion to clear the port.
  20. 20. If leaving the port accessed clamp under pressure and apply dressing and skip steps 20 and 21.
  21. Use the ml of heparinised saline to lock the port. Administer with a pulsing motion and clamp the line while giving the last 1ml.
  22. Holding onto the port, pull out the port needle and dispose of safely in the sharps bin.
  23. Dispose of all other glass and sharps in the sharps bin.
  24. Remove gloves and wash hands.
  25. Wash tray/surface with soap and water.
  26. Enter treatment on Haemtrack.

For further information please contact

Your Haemophilia Nurse specialist: 01223 257039

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Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/