A mediport is a small medical appliance that is surgically installed beneath the skin. A plastic tube (catheter) connects the port to a vein to deliver medicine, blood products, nutrients, or fluids into the bloodstream. The catheter can also remove blood for testing. Chemotherapy is typically given using a mediport.
During a mediport placement, a doctor surgically inserts the device under the skin in the upper chest. The port appears as a bump or raised area under the skin, and is roughly the diameter of a quarter. It is completely internal. The surgeon also surgically inserts the catheter from the port into a nearby vein. The position enables medicine or other fluids to be spread throughout the body quickly and efficiently.
The mediport placement procedure may be necessary for cancer treatment and is minimally invasive under local anesthesia.
Click the graphic to see a larger version
Port-a-cath (Mediport)