broviac vs mediport ....NCC

[Guest guest]

a broviac is a line that is sewn into the skin which can provide access for

fluids,blood draws etc. The has a tube with one or two lumens that hangs

down and it taped to the skins. It has tegaderm over the insertion site to

keep it clean.

A mediport is also a can provide access however it is the size of a pencil

eraser and it is completely hidden under the skin. It only needs to be

flushed once a month compared to daily heparin flushing with the broviac. A

child can swim,bath etc.. with out hvaing to cover and tape up everything. A

mediport has a way lower risk of infection when compared to a broviac.

[Guest guest]

Sorry for the lateness of this response but things have been crazy.

A few years ago, due to severe fluctuations in our daughters eating and

electrolytes, she required the use of broviacs and mediports. This

description was great but our pediatric surgeon did not allow her to swim 72

hours post the mediport being accessed. He felt that there was a small

chance that the skin might not be totally closed and an infection could

still set in. Having gone through many bouts of infections with both the

broviac and the mediport ---- we took his advice because an infection meant

weeks of iv antibiotics and then another surgical procedure to place a new

line --- when the infection was cleared.

One word of advice for either of these lines --- speak to the surgeon who

places it and ask him/her exactly what protocol he wants to have used. Then

INSIST when anyone else goes to use the site that they follow this protocol.

It is not worth taking a chance of infection and you are your BEST ADVOCATE.

You will be so glad you spoke up.

Faith

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of carrie

edgecomb

Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 1:05 PM

To:

Subject: broviac vs mediport ....NCC

a broviac is a line that is sewn into the skin which can provide access for

fluids,blood draws etc. The has a tube with one or two lumens that hangs

down and it taped to the skins. It has tegaderm over the insertion site to

keep it clean.

A mediport is also a can provide access however it is the size of a pencil

eraser and it is completely hidden under the skin. It only needs to be

flushed once a month compared to daily heparin flushing with the broviac. A

child can swim,bath etc.. with out hvaing to cover and tape up everything. A

mediport has a way lower risk of infection when compared to a broviac.