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Cabinet infirmierGrenoble

Infusions and implanted ports

Setting up and monitoring infusions, port care, long-course antibiotics.

Gloved hands preparing a syringe and infusion line on a sterile field laid out on a dining table.
Equipment is prepared on a clean field before any procedure, at home as elsewhere.

The essentials

  • Home infusion requires a detailed prescription and supplies provided by the pharmacy or the equipment provider.
  • Handling an implanted port is a sterile procedure: it is never delegated to family members.
  • Flow rate, duration and monitoring follow the prescribed protocol; we do not change them.
  • Pain at the puncture site, swelling, shivering or fever: call us, and call 15 if breathing becomes difficult.

Who it is for

People under oncology follow-up, on long antibiotic courses, or receiving hydration at home.

How we work

  • Strict aseptic technique, single-use materials, full traceability of care.
  • Monitoring of the puncture site, flow rate and tolerance throughout the session.
  • Coordination with the referring hospital ward and the equipment provider.
  • We practised in medical and thoracic oncology at the university hospital: these are everyday procedures for us.

How a visit unfolds

What happens, in order, when we come to your home.

  1. Checking prescription and product

    Product, dose, duration, route: everything is verified before anything is handled.

  2. Asepsis

    Hand hygiene, sterile field, single-use materials: a venous line is handled only under strict conditions.

  3. Insertion or connection

    Peripheral line or implanted port, as prescribed, with a check of venous return.

  4. Monitoring during the visit

    Flow rate, tolerance, puncture site, how you feel: the infusion is monitored, never left without instructions.

  5. Flush, closure, record

    Flushing per protocol, dressing renewed if needed, observation written and sent to the prescriber.

Diagram

Home infusion, from connection to removal

Home does not change the procedure: it changes everything that must be arranged before touching it.

  1. Prescription and supplies

    Product, device and consumables are delivered and checked before the first connection.

  2. Preparation

    Clean surface, hand hygiene, check of the product, the date and the integrity of the device.

  3. Connection

    The line is connected as prescribed, with the equipment intended for that device.

  4. Monitoring

    We explain what should make you call between visits, and whom to call.

  5. Removal and record

    The device is removed or flushed as prescribed, and the visit is recorded.

What helps prepare the visit

Nothing is compulsory: it simply saves time during the visit.

  • The prescription, the dispensed products and the supplied materials, stored as instructed.
  • A clean, clear work surface at a usable height.
  • A comfortable chair or bed for the duration of the infusion.
  • The device record booklet, if you were given one.

What helps at home

Between visits, these simple habits prevent most urgent calls.

  • Set aside a clean surface and a comfortable chair: an infusion sometimes lasts more than an hour.
  • Never pull on the tubing, and report any dressing lifting near the device.
  • Store bags and supplies flat, away from heat, in their original packaging.
  • The yellow DASTRI box stays at home for the whole duration of the treatment.

When to call us between visits

In a life-threatening emergency, call 15 (or 112) before calling the practice.

  • Pain, swelling, redness or warmth at the puncture site or over the port.
  • Fever or chills, especially during or just after an infusion.
  • A leak, a displaced device, a dressing that has come off.
  • Breathlessness, a rash or faintness while the product is running.

How this care is framed

  • This technical care is provided on prescription, with a written protocol and supplied materials.
  • Antibiotic therapy at home requires coordination with the hospital or community prescriber.
  • Clinical waste is disposed of through the dedicated channel, never with household refuse.

The words used here

Implantable port
A small device placed under the skin and connected to a deep vein, used for repeated treatments (chemotherapy, antibiotics, nutrition).
Prescription
A doctor's written order stating the procedure, frequency and duration. Without it, nursing care cannot be delivered or reimbursed, apart from procedures allowed in direct access.
Sharps waste (DASRI)
Infectious healthcare waste — needles, syringes, lancets — collected in an approved yellow container, never in household waste.
Care protocol
A written, dated description of how a specific patient's care must be delivered: products, supplies, frequency, alert criteria.

Common questions about this care

Can an implanted port be used at home?

Yes, on prescription and with the right equipment. The procedure is performed under strict aseptic conditions, as in hospital.

How long does a home infusion take?

It depends on the prescribed product and flow rate. We give you a realistic duration before starting and stay reachable throughout.

Who coordinates with the hospital?

We do. The referring ward and the equipment provider receive our reports whenever something meaningful changes.

Can I stay alone during the infusion?

It depends on the product and the device: the answer is in the prescription. At the first visit we tell you what should make you call, and whom to call.

Where are the supplies delivered?

To your home, by the pharmacy or the provider named on the prescription. We check the delivery before the first connection, never after.

What if the device does not work?

We stop, we make it safe, and we contact the prescriber or the referring ward. Nothing is forced: a device that resists is a signal, not an obstacle.

Official sources

What we state about the framework of care comes from these public texts, consulted on the date shown.

  1. French National Authority for HealthHygiene and infection risk prevention in medical and paramedical practiceswww.has-sante.frconsulted on
  2. French health insuranceReimbursementswww.ameli.frconsulted on

Related care

These forms of care often go together.

Where we provide this care

Towns in our sector where this care is most frequent.

This care is provided on medical prescription. To find out whether we can visit you, call 04 04 38 04 38.