With the development of intravenous infusion technology, the standardized use of infusion tools is becoming increasingly important in clinical practice. The intravenous infusion method has evolved from simple peripheral venous catheters (scalp needles, indwelling needles) to central venous catheters (CVC, PICC, infusion ports, and other infusion tools). In the treatment of many cancer patients, it is necessary to administer some chemotherapy drugs, and most chemotherapy drugs are irritating or corrosive to blood vessels. In order to protect the patient's blood vessels and alleviate their pain, medical staff need to establish a protective infusion channel for the patient's blood vessels. PICC and infusion port are probably familiar to everyone, but how much do you know about the upper arm port? In order to help more people understand what an upper arm infusion port is, we will now provide a science popularization on the relevant knowledge of an upper arm infusion port:
What is an upper arm infusion port?
ARMPORT, commonly known as Arm Port, refers to a closed vein infusion system that uses the precious veins, brachial veins, and cephalic veins of the arm as entry points, inserts catheters, completely buries the port seat under the skin of the arm, and remains in the body for a long time. It consists of a port seat for puncture and a venous catheter system, which can be used for infusion of various drugs, fluids, nutritional support therapy, blood transfusion, blood sample collection, etc. The port seat of the arm infusion port is located on the inner side of the upper arm, which is easy to cover, can protect privacy, conforms to aesthetics, and is convenient for infusion operation.
Why is the upper arm infusion port called 'an invisible lifeline'?
In clinical use, the following four points can be explained:
First, importance: The upper arm infusion port is a safe infusion channel, which can provide a "lifeline" for patients who cannot be placed in the chest wall infusion port, solve the infusion of various types of drugs and blood products, and provide a convenient infusion route for maintaining and rescuing patients' lives.
Secondly, concealment: The upper arm infusion port is located on the inner side of the upper arm, buried under the skin, with a small incision of about 1.5cm. After the incision is made, during the treatment interval, even in summer, when the patient wears short sleeved clothes, it is not easy for others to discover, effectively protecting the patient's privacy.
Thirdly, convenience: Compared to traditional chest wall infusion ports, it is more convenient for patients to use upper arm ports for infusion. They do not need to expose their chest, roll up their sleeves, or wear short sleeved clothes to insert infusion. Maintenance is simple, and it is maintained once a month during treatment intervals.
Fourth, safety: The insertion of the upper arm infusion port is carried out by experienced professional medical personnel. Compared with the chest wall port, the operation is simpler, the port body is smaller, the damage is less, and the infection is less. The arm infusion port will not cause pneumothorax or clipping syndrome, making it safer.
In a word, the upper arm infusion port is called the "invisible lifeline", mainly because it is an important infusion tool, and its location is hidden and more beautiful. Especially for the beauty loving female patients with breast cancer radiotherapy, neck and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap tumor recurrence, radiation dermatitis, etc., the upper arm infusion port is a better choice.
Indications for upper arm infusion port
1. Patients who require long-term or repeated infusion.
2、 It can be used for blood drawing, transfusion, blood products, nutritional supplements, antibiotic infusion, etc.
3、 Tumor chemotherapy.
How should an upper arm infusion port be established?
The establishment of an upper arm infusion port requires the following steps:
First, prepare the necessary items: disinfectant, upper arm infusion port device, disposable surgical bag, surgical instruments, etc.
Secondly, choose the appropriate location: usually on the inner side of the upper arm, avoiding areas with inflammation, scars, and other conditions.
Thirdly, disinfection: It is necessary to disinfect the entire arm, usually centered around the puncture site, with three coats of alcohol, three coats of iodine, or three coats of chlorhexidine.
Fourth, puncture: Venous vascular puncture is performed under ultrasound guidance, with high precision and a high success rate of one injection.
Fifth, positioning: Intraoperative intracavitary electrocardiogram positioning is used, and postoperative X-ray positioning is performed to ensure that the catheter tip enters the lower one-third of the superior vena cava.
Sixth, insertion of port body: Cut the skin, make a bag of appropriate size, connect the catheter to the port body, insert the port body into the bag, insert a butterfly shaped port needle, draw back blood, ensure that the port needle is in the infusion port slot, seal the tube with heparin saline, and suture the incision.
Seventh, bandaging: fix the needle, cover it with sterile gauze and transparent dressing, wrap it with elastic bandage, with appropriate elasticity.
Eighth, regular dressing changes: Change dressing regularly according to medical advice and needs, keeping the puncture site sterile, clean, and dry.
In summary, the upper arm infusion port is currently the most advanced and scientific "lifeline" and an internationally advanced infusion system device. Understanding more about the upper arm infusion port can actively cooperate with medical staff to establish the upper arm infusion port, effectively protect patients' blood vessels in advance, avoid chemotherapy drug burns, alleviate patients' pain, thereby reducing the incidence of adverse events and improving the effectiveness and safety of intravenous infusion.
At present, since the launch of the upper arm infusion port in 2020, our hospital has had specialized vascular access nurses independently complete nearly 400 cases of upper arm infusion port implantation surgery, without any major complications of infection, which has been well received by colleagues and patients.