Which care principle is part of Port-a-Cath maintenance?

• A. Regular flushing with saline only
• B. Regular flushing with saline/heparin per protocol
• C. Avoid flushing altogether
• D. Flushing with plain water

Answer: (B)

Keeping a Port-a-Cath patent and safe requires regular flushing and locking the line to prevent clotting and infection. The best practice is to flush with saline and then lock with heparin per the facility’s protocol. Saline clears the lumen, and the heparin lock reduces the chance of thrombus forming inside the catheter between uses, helping maintain patency. Following the protocol matters because it specifies the appropriate concentration and timing for the patient, balancing patency with safety. Flushing with saline alone can miss the anticoagulation part some protocols require; avoiding flushing altogether risks occlusion and infection; flushing with plain water is inappropriate due to contamination risk and lack of anticoagulation.