Question:
How is your port accessed?

My daughter only had one band-fill. I saw the surgeon access the port with his bare hands. He had a very difficult time 20-30 minutes of trying to acess her - she was bleeding. A few days later she develpoed an infection & she battled the infection for months, the infection almost took her life. I want to know if surgeons typically use gloves when they access ports. Please tell me your experiences.    — mscross (posted on August 26, 2006)

August 26, 2006
k i am in the medical field in fact i work in surgery. anyway, did you see the dr wash his hands, even still yes he should have def . been wearing gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   — cyndie M.

August 26, 2006
Any medical procedure that involves breaking the skin barrier is required to have gloves on, not only to protect the medical person, but the patient as well. Once the skin barrier is broken, the risk of infection increases, and I have no doubt that the cause of her infection was bacteria from her skin as well as the doctors being introduced into her skin and blood from not wearing gloves. I am sorry your daughter had to go through such a mess. All it takes is one mistake to forever change a life. I wish you and your daughter the best. Shelly Charlier
   — scharlier

August 27, 2006
Oh I'm so sorry she had to suffer through that. I don't know much about lapband since I had RNY but any medical procedure should be handled with gloves! Did he even wash his hands? I don't even like people handling my food without gloves! I find that highly unprofessional. I hope your daughter is doing better now.
   — platypus

August 27, 2006
The doctor most definitely should have been wearing gloves! If not for the patients sake, than for his own safety.
   — bklynnyusa

September 2, 2006
yes, my doctor wears gloves and hers is supposed to. sally
   — calgal