Port Insertion: — What the Procedure Involves
Most people told they need a port imagine a serious operation. It is a short day-care procedure under local anaesthetic — and understanding exactly what happens makes it far less frightening.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Not major surgery — There is no general anaesthetic and no overnight stay. Most people go home the same day.
- Usually 30 to 60 minutes — The insertion itself is brief. You spend more time recovering than in the procedure room.
- Numbed, not knocked out — Local anaesthetic means the area is numb. You stay awake and can talk to the team throughout.
- Watch the site after — Redness, spreading swelling or fever in the days after insertion should be reported to your team the same day.
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Port insertion is a minor surgical procedure, not major surgery. It is done under local anaesthetic, usually as day care, and takes around 30 to 60 minutes. Most people go home the same day and are ready for their first treatment within a few days.
What do the terms on your consent form mean?
- Implantable port (port-a-cath)
- A small, round device placed under the skin on your chest. Chemotherapy, fluids and blood tests can all be given through it — without a new needle in your arm each time.
- Reservoir
- The dome-shaped chamber of the port that sits just under your skin. A nurse accesses it through the skin using a special non-coring needle each time treatment is needed.
- Catheter
- A thin, soft tube attached to the reservoir. It sits inside a large vein near your heart so medicines reach the bloodstream quickly and safely.
- Septum
- The self-sealing centre of the port. Needles pass through it during each session and it reseals when the needle is removed — which is how ports can be accessed many times over.
- Local anaesthetic
- Medicine injected under the skin to numb the area before insertion. You remain awake. Some centres also offer mild sedation if you prefer to be more relaxed.
- Day care
- You come in, have the procedure, recover for a short while, and go home the same day. No overnight stay is needed for most port insertions.
Before you come in: what your team will ask
- Tell your doctor about every medicine you take — especially blood thinners such as warfarin, clopidogrel or aspirin. Your team will advise whether to pause any of them before the procedure.
- Tell your team about any allergies, including to skin antiseptics, local anaesthetic or latex.
- Wear a loose, wide-necked top or shirt on the day — it makes access to your chest easier and more comfortable.
- Arrange a family member or friend to take you home. Do not drive yourself, especially if sedation is planned.
- Follow any fasting instructions your team gives you. These vary depending on whether sedation will be used.
- Bring your hospital ID and any recent imaging your team has asked for.
What happens during the procedure?
Port insertion is a minor surgical procedure. There is no general anaesthetic, no large cut and no overnight stay in an operating theatre.
The area on your chest is cleaned and numbed with local anaesthetic. You may feel pressure or mild pulling, but not pain. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, tell the team — they can give you more anaesthetic.
The surgeon makes one or two small cuts, places the reservoir under the skin and threads the catheter into a large vein. The cuts are closed with dissolving stitches or surgical glue. Ultrasound or X-ray guidance is used during the procedure to confirm correct placement.
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What should you watch for after the procedure?
You recover in a monitored area for a short time and most people go home within a few hours. Some soreness and bruising around the site are normal for the first week and settle on their own.
Your team will tell you when the port is ready to use — typically a few days after insertion, once initial swelling has settled.
Contact your team the same day if you notice redness, warmth or swelling that appears to be spreading; any discharge from the site; fever; or the skin over the port looking different from one day to the next.
A fever, chills or feeling suddenly unwell after port insertion always needs same-day contact — not a wait-and-see approach. Port infections are treatable, but only when they are caught early.
Questions people ask before saying yes to a port
Will I be awake during the procedure?
Yes. Port insertion is done under local anaesthetic — the area is numbed and you remain conscious throughout. Some centres also offer mild sedation, which makes you drowsy and relaxed but not unconscious. General anaesthetic is not routinely used. Ask your team what is available at your centre and whether sedation is right for you before the day.
Will it hurt?
The local anaesthetic injection is a brief sting. After that, most people feel pressure and movement but not pain. If you feel pain during the procedure, tell the team immediately — they can give you more numbing medicine. After the procedure, the site is sore for a few days, similar to a bruise. Your team will advise on simple pain relief.
Where exactly is it placed and will it show under clothing?
The port is usually placed on the upper chest, below the collarbone. It creates a small raised area — roughly the size of a large coin — that may be visible if you look closely but is not obvious under most clothing. The exact position depends on your anatomy and your team's assessment; in some situations a different site is chosen.
How long will the port stay in?
The port stays in for as long as your treatment requires — usually several months, covering the full course of chemotherapy. After treatment is complete, it is removed in a similar short procedure under local anaesthetic. Your oncologist will decide the timing of removal based on your overall treatment plan; the port does not need to come out the moment chemotherapy finishes.
When can I shower and move my arm normally?
Your team will give you specific wound-care instructions for the first days. Once the site has healed — usually within one to two weeks — most normal daily activities resume. Swimming is generally not advised until the wound is fully closed. Follow the guidance your team gives you rather than general advice, as healing varies from person to person and between centres.
Did you know?
A port can be accessed hundreds of times over its working life. Each access replaces a fresh needle in the arm — meaning far fewer difficult cannulation attempts and considerably less discomfort across a long course of treatment.
ESMO guidance on venous access notes that implanted ports have among the lowest rates of infection of all central venous access options, when they are maintained correctly and monitored for early warning signs.
Source: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for Venous Access Devices
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Frequently asked questions
Is port insertion considered surgery?
It is a minor surgical procedure — a small incision is made and the device is placed under the skin. It is not major surgery. There is no general anaesthetic, no large cut and no overnight stay for most people. It is done in a procedure room or minor theatre, and most people go home within a few hours of the procedure ending.
What type of anaesthesia is used for port insertion?
Local anaesthetic is used to numb the area on your chest. You remain awake throughout. Mild sedation — medicine that makes you drowsy and relaxed — can often be added if you are anxious, but full general anaesthesia is not routinely used for this procedure. Ask your team in advance what is available at your centre so there are no surprises on the day.
How long does port insertion take?
The procedure itself usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. You will also spend time beforehand being prepared and time afterwards recovering in a monitored area. The total time at the facility is typically three to four hours, though this varies by centre and by individual. Your team will give you a more specific timeline when they book the procedure.
How soon after insertion can the port be used for chemotherapy?
Most ports are ready to use within a few days of insertion, once initial soreness and swelling have settled. In some situations the port can be accessed on the same day it is inserted, depending on your treatment schedule and your oncologist's assessment. Your team will tell you when your port is ready and what to expect the first time it is used.
What are the signs of a port infection?
Watch for redness, warmth or swelling at or around the site that appears to be spreading; fluid or discharge from the wound; fever; or the skin over the port feeling different. Any of these in the days or weeks after insertion needs same-day contact with your team. Port infections respond well to treatment when they are identified early — delay makes them harder to manage.
Can the port be inserted if I am already on chemotherapy?
Often yes, though your oncologist and the team performing the insertion will check your blood counts and clotting before the procedure, because some chemotherapy affects how quickly the blood clots. If your counts are too low on the planned day, the procedure may be rescheduled. Your team will coordinate the timing carefully around your treatment cycle.
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