A port is a medical device that provides easy access to the bloodstream to give medicines and draw blood. It has a small dome just under the skin that connects to a catheter (a thin, hollow tube). The catheter goes into a large vein (blood vessel) that leads to the heart. 

To use the port, a needle is put through the skin into the dome. This is called accessing the port. It is easier and less painful than a typical needlestick. 

Your child had a port placed. Once the incision (cut that was made to place the port) heals, your child can do pretty much all the activities they did before they got the port.

Follow your health care provider's instructions for:

• Caring for any bandages over the port.
• How to keep the incision dry during bathing. And when it's OK to let it get wet. 
• Any sports or activities to avoid.
• How to flush (put saline in the vein), access (put a needle in), and de-access (take a needle out of) the port. You may have a home health provider to help you with this.
• How often the port needs to be flushed. 

Other instructions:

• Ask your health care provider if your child can have a numbing cream put on the area before the port is used. This can help with any discomfort from the needle going through the skin. 
• There may be times when your child's port remains accessed (has the needle in it). Check with your health care provider about special instructions to keep the accessed port dry and clean and whether your child needs to avoid any activities until the port is de-accessed (needle is removed).
• Be sure your child's daycare providers, teachers, school nurse, and physical education teacher know about the port.

Your child has signs of an infected port, such as:

• Redness, swelling, pus, or soreness in the port area
• A fever

Your child has a high fever or chills. This can be a sign of a serious infection.

You know your child best. If they have symptoms that worry you, call your health care provider or take them to the ER right away.

What problems can happen from a port? Most people who have a port don't have any problems. But sometimes, it can get infected or stop working. If it gets infected, health care providers start antibiotics right away, since an infection in the blood can be serious. Very rarely, a port can lead to a blood clot.

How long can a port stay in? A port can be removed after a few months or even years.