MedComp DIGNITY Instructions D'utilisation page 9

7. Peel the sheath away from the catheter completely. Make sure the
catheter is not dislodged from vessel.
CATHETER TUNNELING PROCEDURE
1. Create a subcutaneous pocket using blunt dissection.
Note: Do a trial placement to verify that the pocket is large enough
to accommodate the port and that the port does not lie beneath the
incision.
Attachable Catheters
• Create a subcutaneous tunnel from the venous site to the port
pocket site using tunneler or long forceps per the following:
a. Make a small incision at the venous entry site.
b. Insert tip of tunneler into the small incision.
c. Form tunnel by advancing tip of tunneler from the venous entry
site to the port pocket site. Caution: Avoid inadvertent puncture
of the skin of fascia with the tip of the tunneler.
d. Remove catheter lock from the catheter. Caution: Never use a
catheter lock that appears cracked or otherwise damaged.
e. Attach end of catheter onto the tunneler barb with a twisting
motion. Note: Barb threads must be completely covered to the
extent possible by the catheter as it is pulled through the tunnel.
A suture may be tied around the catheter between the tunneler
body and the large barb to hold it more securely.
f. Pull the tunneler through to the port pocket site while gently
holding the catheter. Note: The catheter must not be forced.
g. Place catheter lock back onto catheter, ensuring the radiopaque
ring faces proximally (toward the end of the catheter that will be
attached to the port).
h. Cut the catheter to the proper length at a 90˚ angle, allowing
sufficient slack for body movement and port connection. Check
catheter for any damage. If any damage is noted, cut damaged
section off before connecting catheter to port.
CONNECT CATHETER TO PORT
1. Flush all air from the port body using a 10ml syringe with a non-
coring needle filled with heparinized saline (100 USP U/ml). Insert
the needle through the septum and inject the fluid while pointing
the stem up. Remember that some patients may be hypersensitive
to heparin and these patients must not have their port flushed with
heparinized saline.
2. Cleanse all system components with irrigation solution.
3. Connect catheter to port:
Caution: Prior to advancing the catheter lock, ensure that the
catheter is properly positioned. A catheter not advanced to the
proper region may not seat securely and lead to dislodgment
and extravasation. The catheter must be straight with no sign of
kinking. A slight pull on the catheter is sufficient to straighten it.
Advancing the catheter lock over a kinked catheter may damage
the catheter. Do not hold the catheter or catheter lock with any
instruments that could potentially damage either piece (e.g.,
hemostats).
a. Align port stem with catheter.
Note: If the catheter and lock are connected and then
disconnected, the catheter end must be re-trimmed to ensure a
secure re-connection.
b. Advance catheter over port stem to midway between the ribs
for the 9.6F Silicone versions; 6.6F/5F titanium stem Triniflex
catheters just over the second rib and all 8F titanium stem
Triniflex
catheter too far along port stem could lead to "mushrooming"
of tubing when the catheter lock is advanced. Should this
occur, it is advisable to stop advancing the catheter lock, pull
the catheter back along the stem away from the port, and re-
assemble the connection.
c. Advance catheter lock straight until flush with port. Catheter
lock should be sufficient to secure catheter to port. Medcomp
does not recommend suturing around the catheter as doing so
could compress, kink, or damage catheter.
catheters just up to the second rib. Note: Advancing
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