A friend of mine's mom is going home on longterm TPN & Dilaudid for ovarian cancer with complete bowel obstruction. Diagnosis is terminal - has been fighting this for 2 years. I recommended a tunneled catheter due to continuous 24hr TPN (didn't do well on cyclical) & Dilaudid. MD wants to put in a double lumen port. I would prefer a catheter since we see no future of not being hooked up to something at all times. Port will require needle changes x2 weekly. MD told my friend the needles just stay in. I told her no, they are changed out weekly. Plus once healed tunneled catheter is easier to shower with etc. Could I get some feedback from this group? Thanks in advance.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Hallene E Utter, RN, BSN Intravenous Care, INC