'A Patient Voice' Community

My wife has a Bard Power Port. can't get a blood return when doing monthly flush. Bard says needle is too short. Infusion Lab and doctor at hospital said use 3/4" needle, Bard now says use 1" needle minimum. Any one know if the 1" needles make it work better?

hello, H --

do the instructions for the power port specify what bard now says is the correct length for the needle?

the form (no. 3500) for filing a complaint with the food and drug administration (FDA) can be accessed thru http://www.webmd.com/fda/your-guide-reporting-problems-fda . look in the second set of info in the chart titled "quick-reference chart for reporting problems."

in the alternative, from the FDA website, you can get --

-- two guides that discuss how to report a problem with a medical device (you should look at both, because they cover different topics), http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049087.htm and http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095859.htm ;

-- general instructions for reporting, http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm ; and

-- the form (no. 3500) for on-line reporting, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm , and its specific instructions, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/DownloadForms/UCM082725.pdf -online.htm ; or

-- the form (no. 3500) for download for a paper copy to be faxed (800/332-0178) or mailed (MEDWATCH, FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program, food and drug administration, 5600 fishers lane, rockville, MD, 20852-9787), http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/DownloadForms/UCM082725.pdf , and and its specific instructions, click on "general instructions" in the yellow box very near the top of the page, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/DownloadForms/UCM082725.pdf .

finally, you can call the FDA (800/332-1088) or a state complaint coordinator (list of states and phone numbers is at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm ), and have someone take all of your info by phone. however, i do not recommend that you use the phone for reporting, because you don't have control over what is written down (everyone makes mistakes, even FDA employees!) and there is the risk of miscommunication if the FDA employee doesn't hear something correctly. plus if you use the phone, you have no written record of what you submitted.

on the topic of bard power port problems (see PS), this community has several threads that you might want to have a look at --

-- http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/594/16#16 ,

-- http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/817/1?@guest ,

-- http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/875/0?@guest , and

-- http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/971 .

i send caring thoughts to you and your wife and hope that she will have no more problems with her port device.

-- susie margaret

PS -- you can see typical adverse-event reports on bard power port problems (be sure that the reported items have the same name and model number as whatever you want to report if you want to show a pattern) at --

-- http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=918890&utm_campaign=Google2&utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=(bard , and

-- http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=1589585&utm_campaign=Google2&utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=(bard .

Dear hs30540,
My experience has been similar to yours. So many times when they come to flush my port, they can't get blood return either. They can usually flush it but can't draw blood. I am having surgery tomorrow to have my THIRD PowerPort placed because this one doesnt work. It is totally disgusting that I have to have 3 ports in 3 yrs because Bard can't get it together to remedy the problems they are having with their ports.
I have typically had the best results using a 1" needle. The literature only says to use a "huber, non-coring needle from 3/4" to 1 1/2". My nurses usually have the best luck using the 1". The shorter needles arent long enough to get thru the scar tissue and into the port diaphragm..
Hopefully this will help you. I see that you posted this one month ago so maybe by now you have received an answer.
Blessings to you,
Ciaranani

hello, all --

i have compiled a list of all of the threads i could find on bard power ports at http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/979 . looking at these will give you a good idea of what problems are out there plus contact info for several of the people who have had problems such as yours.

i have also compiled a summary of the procedures for making a complaint to the FDA, http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/980 (with extensive borrowing from one or two of the messages here, thank you very much!).

as far as I can tell, these two lists are accurate up to july 4, 2012. I hope they are helpful to you.

-- susie margaret

My chemo nurse used a one inch needle because she said my port is inserted more deeply. It worked fine when the longer needle is used. My chemo ended November 8th and I had the port removed on December 20th. Now, I'm just recovering my upper body strength and muscles after 10 months of the port. I seem to have some scar tissue around where the port was inserted, touching my brachial nerve. Hoping my brachial nerve finds peace within the muscle bundle and pain will gradually diminish.