While prepping for my evening shower last Thursday night, my wife noticed a circular pad around my catheter port entry area. I had not noticed it before and had never previously had such a device after catheter placement either. As it was installed, I could not conduct the normal aseptic routine I follow after showering to safeguard my port. Those of us on PD live in constant fear of screwing up and getting something, outside or inside our bodies infected.
I sent an email to my dialysis nurse with pictures of the port and she immediately called me back and said not to worry, that the patch was just a temporary protection against infection, and I should remove it in due course. Since I have never encountered such a patch previously, and I have one now that’s coming off shortly, this blog provides readers background on what is named a “biopatch.” I have embedded a video at the end which tells you all you need to know about the biopatch.
See the three pictures below: The first picture is an overall of my stomach area, showing the biopatch surrounding my catheter at entry via the port in my stomach, the second picture is a closeup of my catheter/port area, and the third picture is a closeup of one of the three “keyholes” my surgeon used to go inside my stomach area to reposition my catheter to preclude drain issues.
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