Re: Digest Number 2533

[Guest guest]

<snip>I posted this question a while ago, but had no replys, so I thought I would give it a try again. We are looking at putting in a portacath for Ronan (4yrs old). I have heard that mito kids have more infection problems with them then other kids. What have been your experiences. Ronan is suseptable to Resp. infections, but never gets a septicemia. Please let me know your experiences with portacaths---good and bad <snip>

Our little boy had a portacath placed when he was not quite 2. For us it was the best thing we ever did (next to the g-tube which was a god send). He had one major infection because of a nurse who did not use sterile technique. It about cost him his life and it did cost her her job. He had to have it replaced 3 times after that but it became a must do. When he got his first infection he was on TPN and getting the IV antibiotics and it came to the point that they had to do a cut down after 27 attempts (I'll never forget that day) to get IV access. The next time it broke and they had to do another cut down just to give him meds to go into surgery. The last time was another staph infection that they figure had probably colonized from the first and just decided to "re-grow" because they used to same "pocket". Even with having to replace it three times it was the best decision for him. Meds were more accurate, blood draws painless and before he became TPN dependant, no more hospitalizations for just IV's. We went from being in 1 to 2 times a month to almost a whole year out... AMAZING!!! Infections are a worry but a good sterile protocol and I have heard of children having years and not have a problem. He caught every bug that ever existed I think but he had his a year and a half without an infection with almost daily access.

Wish you the best of luck in whatever decision you make.

Tina

10 going on 21

Eleanna 3 'nuff said

Austin RCD I-IV Forever Four