port
Meaning of port: A port is a small device implanted under the skin that allows repeated vein access for medication or blood draws without new needle sticks.
Definition of port
A port is a small medical device implanted beneath the skin, most often in the upper chest, that provides repeated access to a vein without requiring a new needle stick for every use. It consists of a reservoir connected to a thin tube, called a catheter, that extends into a large vein.
Once implanted, a port can be accessed through the skin using a specialized needle, allowing medication to be infused or blood to be drawn as needed over an extended period. This makes a port particularly useful for treatments that require frequent or long-term intravenous access, including certain chemotherapy regimens, long-term antibiotic therapy, and other prolonged intravenous treatment.
Because a port remains in place under the skin between uses, it requires periodic maintenance to keep it functioning properly and to reduce the risk of infection or blockage, and it can typically remain implanted for an extended period before removal is needed.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The port was accessed to begin the scheduled infusion.
Good to know
A port remains implanted under the skin between uses, distinguishing it from a standard intravenous line, which is placed and removed within a single, shorter episode of care.
Word origin
Where “port” comes from
Formed from Latin porta, meaning gate or entrance, describing the device's function as an entry point into the bloodstream.