Port implantation (Port-A-Cath) is a common procedure in interventional radiology aimed at providing secure, long-term, and convenient access to the patient's central venous system. The port itself is a small device, a reservoir made of titanium or plastic a few centimeters in diameter, covered by a soft silicone septum. Connected to this device is a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. The overarching goal of the procedure is to enable repeated administration of medications, chemotherapy, fluids, blood products, and even blood sampling, without experiencing the pain and difficulty associated with repeated needle sticks in arm veins.
 

The procedure is usually performed in a catheterization lab or operating room under local anesthesia and mild sedation, so the patient does not feel pain but remains conscious. The performing physician, an interventional radiologist, uses advanced imaging modalities such as ultrasound and X-ray fluoroscopy to guide the operation with maximum precision. In the first stage, the physician inserts the thin catheter into a large central vein in the chest or neck area and advances it until its tip reaches the superior vena cava, near the entrance to the right atrium of the heart. This location ensures rapid and effective dilution of medications injected into the bloodstream.

In the second stage, the physician creates a small "pocket" under the skin on the upper chest wall, usually on the right side, and inserts the port body into it. The catheter already inserted into the vein is connected to the port, and the skin incision is sutured or glued. At the end of the procedure, the entire port is located beneath the skin and is not visible externally, but is only felt as a small bump. Access to the port is achieved by inserting a special needle through the skin into the silicone septum of the port.
 

Port implantation is primarily suitable for patients requiring prolonged intravenous treatment, such as cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, patients needing long-term antibiotics, or individuals requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN).