Femoral Portacath

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis not applicable

Presentation

Check position of Portacath.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

The left-sided abdominal Portacath tubing is intact and the tip is projected in the IVC at the level of the inferior endplate of L3. The bowel gas pattern is normal. No evidence of free gas.

Case Discussion

This patient had a history of right breast cancer requiring chemotherapy via a Portacath but her original catheter in her left chest became infected after one week and was removed. A catheter in the right side was contraindicated due to her surgical axillary clearance. She then had her treatment successfully completed via an Interventional Radiologist-inserted tunneled left abdominal Portacath with a common femoral vein puncture (under US-guidance).

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