Copyright © 2021 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Patient Education. Last revised 06/2024. Page 1 of 2 What Is a “Port”? Brand name: Port-A Cath® What is a port? A port is a small device used to draw blood and receive treatments. You might hear staff call it by its brand name, Port-A-Cath. Many people have a port instead of an IV in the arm. A port is placed during an outpatient procedure. It is usually inserted under the skin of the upper chest or arm. A port consists of a raised disc. It is about the size of a large grape with a flexible tube, called a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a vein and placed under the skin. Once the skin heals, the area will have a small bump. There are many types of ports. Your cancer care team will choose the type of port that is best for your treatment. A Port This picture shows a port inside a patient’s body without a needle inserted. It also shows a needle inserted into the port for a blood draw. Why might you need a port? • You need many infusions or blood draws. A port puts less stress on your arm veins than an IV. When using an IV, your arm veins become overused and hard to find. As a result, you could have multiple IV sticks per visit and a port could reduce this risk. • The medicine you need could irritate small veins in the arm or it may need to be given over a few days through a pump. • Some ports are used by radiology for some imaging tests. You might be able to receive an injection of dye for a scan through the port.
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