Infusion Port

[redtreviso]

I was discussing cycling doping with a nurse the other day and I said I didn't see how untrained cyclists could IV themselves without all kinds of accidents. I've had dozens of dye injections for kidney stone xrays and every 3 or 4 times I'd get a bruise the size of a baseball. A few other times a vein hematoma..and this was just injecting maybe 6 oz of dye.. Quickly infusing saline or blood would be even more risky..My nurse friend said they probably have an infusion port buried under the skin..If they don't I would be interested in knowing how they hide bruises and needle marks..You'd think their feet would be off limits as well as any location that would cause pedaling or sitting problems. The visible arm veins would have to be left alone. One other thing..Starting your own IV would be impossible for most people..

 

[nevada]

I was discussing cycling doping with a nurse the other day and I said I didn't see how untrained cyclists could IV themselves without all kinds of accidents. I've had dozens of dye injections for kidney stone xrays and every 3 or 4 times I'd get a bruise the size of a baseball. A few other times a vein hematoma..and this was just injecting maybe 6 oz of dye.. Quickly infusing saline or blood would be even more risky..My nurse friend said they probably have an infusion port buried under the skin..If they don't I would be interested in knowing how they hide bruises and needle marks..You'd think their feet would be off limits as well as any location that would cause pedaling or sitting problems. The visible arm veins would have to be left alone. One other thing..Starting your own IV would be impossible for most people..

Do you have any idea what the infection rates are for IV's in hospitals ? Get real, a concealed open port for a 3 week tour !

 

[redtreviso]

Do you have any idea what the infection rates are for IV's in hospitals ? Get real, a concealed open port for a 3 week tour !

Well??? I wouldn't want to bet on sterile conditions and infection of a dirty rider after a 5hr stage especially if the rider was doing the procedure hunting for veins.

 

[rikdewy]

Do you have any idea what the infection rates are for IV's in hospitals ? Get real, a concealed open port for a 3 week tour !

No but I'm curious. I would've thought fairly low. ?

 

[patricknd]

i had a port in my chest during chemo. it was about the diameter of a quarter, about 3/8" thick, and has a line that goes directly into a vein. it's titanium, and has a small rubbery section in the center to insert the needles. it's completely under the skin, so there's not much to worry about with infection as long as you're not re-using needles. but it is visible when your not wearing a shirt.

 

[redtreviso]

No but I'm curious. I would've thought fairly low. ?

Infection rates might be low but bruises and vein misses are numerous. I've been hooked up dozens of times and at least 1/3 of the time there is a problem, during or after.

 

[nevada]

No but I'm curious. I would've thought fairly low. ?

Nope, one of the main targets for infection rate control in US hospitals. They have guidlines are now checked everyday and removed if there no need to keep them in.

 

[Ferminal]

If they really do get on the IV saline during the coffee, then it might not be out of the question.

I doubt they'd do it just for the three transfusions though.

Plus I can't see them getting a surgeon to install one.

 

[GPlataniotis]

The notion that riders are using ports is utterly ridiculous and absurd. I have had 3 ports put in me over the last 3 years (for autologous and allogenic stem cell transplants (I have Cancer - Multipel Myeloma).

The amount of care required to keep the area clean is just not possible for a cyclist who rides a 3 week tour and expects not to get infected. Also, having them in is very uncomfortable and I was just laying in bed, not cycling up huge mountain passes. Further, the cyclists are wearing Lycra and any bulge would illustrate an apparatus was being hidden underneath.

I am certain doping goes on, but utilizing ports in my opinion is just not realistic.

 

[la.margna]

the port i have is a "babyport". it is so small that it's almost impossible to detect even if i do not wear a shirt. small, clean and proper. but i have no clue whether this is popular in pro sports or not.

at least in the 90's, when ports were not that small and the entire peloton was pumped, the riders who confessed often mentioned that they did made sure they had one or more spots of their body tattoed with whatever design and used these areas to inject the needles as it is almost impossible to spot them afterwards...

sad topic, sad thread.

 

[Apolitical]

Do you have any idea what the infection rates are for IV's in hospitals ? Get real, a concealed open port for a 3 week tour !

I personally know people who have done RAAM rides who put these in and used them for the entire event to keep hydrated. Keep them clean and covered...

 

[redtreviso]

Baby ports, RAAM riders, Tatoos...Maybe it is in the wrist under the yellow flea collar.

 

[this_is_edie]

I personally know people who have done RAAM rides who put these in and used them for the entire event to keep hydrated. Keep them clean and covered...

I do find that scary actually.

 

[BroDeal]

i had a port in my chest during chemo. it was about the diameter of a quarter, about 3/8" thick, and has a line that goes directly into a vein. it's titanium, and has a small rubbery section in the center to insert the needles. it's completely under the skin, so there's not much to worry about with infection as long as you're not re-using needles. but it is visible when your not wearing a shirt.

I had a PICC line during chemo. It was not exactly unnoticable.

 

[patricknd]

I had a PICC line during chemo. It was not exactly unnoticable.

the port wasn't very visible unless my shirt was off, then the lump was pretty obvious, especially with the scar. i liked it though, didn't have all the bruises like i did getting it in the arm.