A Port-a -Cath is inserted in
patients who require long term treatment for health conditions that involve oncology and haematology .
Many patients who have a port-a-cath
can keep it for several years, well beyond the treatment period
The service is provided from
Birkirkara Health Centre, Cospicua Health Centre, Rabat Health Centre and
Kirkop Health Centre.
Nursing staff have been trained and certified in
providing this service, that involves maintenance of the ports by flushing with
Taurolidine to keep the port-a-cath patent. Those patients who come for the
Taurolidine flush must have the line patent with good back flow, or else
patients are to be referred back to SAMOC for further management
Patients are referred to one of the
aforementioned Health Centres by the SAMOC Practice Nurses after chemotherapy
treatment is discontinued.
Each patient is given an information
booklet from SAMOC and the patient will bring the information booklet with them
for every Port-a-Cath flushing appointment, for documentation purposes.