While ports were developed in the early 1980’s for the delivery of chemotherapy to oncology patients, today they are the standard for access to a variety of systems in laboratory research animals where their use has provided many new research opportunities.

Recently vascular access ports have found a home in veterinary medicine for a variety or therapies including chemotherapy, pleural effusion control, incontinence relief and in the subcutaneous ureteral bypass system.

Subcutaneous Vascular Access Ports (V-A-P), are totally implanted catheter devices that do not exit the animal’s skin. This lack of a chronic exit site wound offers many benefits including; eliminating the need for protective aparatus, promoting socialization, reducing infectious episodes, and represents a refined technique which has reduced animal use and minimized stress.

Vascular Access Port Choice

With a wide array of ports to choose from, features to consider when making the choice include port size and shape to minimize skin necrosis, septum location and ease of palpation, the dead space, and the septums’ grip to avoid accidental needle dislodgement.