I have been told that ONS states a port only needs to be accessed and flushed every 6-8 weeks. I have always been taught that once a month is the established frequency found throughout the USA. I know of patients whose ports have remained patent after 3 months without access and flushing but this is not meeting the standards.
Does anyone know what ONS's position is? I can't find any reference in the INS standards either.
No clinical studies have established a definitive interval. One month or 4 weeks is the original IFU from the first manufacturer that introduced ports to the market back in the early 1980's. But that was not based on clinical outcomes. There are only a few studies that have assessed this length with some reporting patients that were not accessed for over 200 days. See INS Standard 28, Practice Criteria F.2. - insufficient evidence, etc, etc. Not sure what ONS recommends although they do have a new resource out for about a year now.
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