Help Section for Implanted Port

Penn Home Infusion Team
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

Problem	Possible Causes	What To Do
Fever of 100.5 or more	Infusion too fast Catheter Infection Other causes such as the flu, common cold	Call physician
Leaking fluid	Loose connection Hole in tubing	Check all connections and tighten Replace tubing
Weakness, nausea, or frequent urination	Blood sugar is too high Solution being infused too fast	Call physician
Sweating, nausea, headache, feeling of nervousness, blurred vision, shakiness, drowsiness	Blood sugar too low Stopping TPN to rapidly	Take some form of sugar (hard candy, honey, fruit, Juice) Call physician
Swelling of feet or ankles, shortness of breath while performing usual activity, weight gain 2 lbs or more per day	Retaining extra fluid	Call physician
Pump alarms	Varies with alarm	See alarm section
Swelling in the shoulder or where catheter is located	Fluid being infused into skin, not in port	Stop infusion Reaccess port Call physician
Pain, redness, or drainage around the catheter	Infection at catheter site	Call physician
Tubing becomes disconnected	Tubing not taped or secured properly	DON'T PANIC. Clamp the extension tubing tightly. If there is blood in the tubing, flush the port with 4.5 cc of sodium chloride followed by 4.5 cc of 100 units/cc Heparin. Start infusion again. If there is air in the tubing, turn off the pump, clamp the tubing as close to your body as possible, lie on your left side. Call physician.
Bloody urine, bruising easily, bleeding gums	Blood thinning medication	Call physician
Any unusual feeling	Various causes	Call physician
Unable to flush port	Catheter has developed blockage	Change body position and try to flush again. If still unable to flush, call physician. DO NOT FORCE FLUSH INTO CATHETER