Vascular and Interventional Specialists of Florida in Miami, Florida can assist with venous access procedures in the comfort and convenience of our office. Our providers and staff have the knowledge and experience necessary to quickly and effectively insert or remove ports, lines, catheters, and more.
Common Venous Access Procedures
Chest ports
A chest port is a small medical appliance that is installed under the skin – usually in the upper chest just below the clavicle (collar bone) – and connected to a vein with a catheter. Beneath the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be repeatedly drawn with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick.” Chest ports are used mostly to treat hematology and oncology patients.
Groshong® catheter placement
These are a type of central venous catheter, which are placed under direct fluoroscopic visualization in an angiography suite. The catheter is usually tunneled beneath the skin through an incision on the chest wall where it exits the body. Groshong® catheters are used when long-term IV therapy is needed, such as in the following conditions: chemotherapy, hydration, pain management, and total parenteral nutrition.
PICC line insertion
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a long, thin tube that's inserted through a vein in your arm and passed through to the larger veins near your heart. Very rarely is the PICC line placed in your leg. A PICC line gives your doctor access to the large central veins near your heart. A PICC line is generally used to give medications or liquid nutrition and can help avoid the pain of frequent needle sticks while reducing the risk of irritation to the smaller veins in your arms.
Permacatheter insertion
Used for short-term dialysis treatment, a Permacath insertion is the placement of a special IV line into the blood vessel in your neck or upper chest just under the collarbone. The catheter is then threaded into the right side of your heart (right atrium). During the procedure, a tunnel is created under the skin to thread the other portion of the catheter out through the skin. This tunneling process greatly reduces the risk of infection and allows the catheter to remain in for a long period of time (from 1 to 12 months).
Port removal
A doctor or nurse can remove a PICC line immediately after your last infusion. After cleansing the area, they’ll gently pull the catheter until it’s removed and apply slight pressure to stop any bleeding before covering the area with sterile gauze dressing. Using local anesthesia or conscious sedation, a small incision is made, and any implanted ports and catheter are removed. This is done in a sterile, operating room setting. The wound will usually be closed using Steri-Strips.
Tunneled catheter removal
A tunneled catheter is a thin tube that is placed in a vein – such as the internal jugular in the neck, the femoral artery in the groin, or veins in the chest or back – for long-term use. The catheter is tunneled under the skin and has a cuff attached to it that allows tissue and skin to grow around it, giving the line more stability. The removal procedure is performed with IV sedation or general anesthesia. Local numbing medicine is injected into the skin around the catheter exit site, the tissue is loosened, and the catheter is removed.
Catheter declotting
Catheter declotting is performed when there is thought to be a clot impeding blood flow. Alteplase or Reteplase, thrombolytic medications , are often used. Alteplase has been found to clear 52% of obstructed catheters within 30 minutes with 86% overall clearance (after 2 doses, when necessary). Reteplase has been found to clear 67–74% within 30–40 min and 95% of catheters overall.
Dialysis access services
Dialysis access services are an essential component for any patient undergoing kidney dialysis. At Vascular and Interventional Specialists of Florida in Miami, Florida, we monitor your access and intervene as necessary.
Venous Access Procedures in Miami, FL
For an appointment or to refer a patient for a venous access procedure, call Vascular and Interventional Specialists of Florida in Miami, Florida. Patients can request an appointment online, physicians can download the physician referral form, or you can call us directly at (305) 598-1555.