An implantable venous port consists of a port reservoir, which is a round piece of plastic with a soft silicone top, and a thin, flexible tube attached to the port called the catheter. Using ultrasound and live X-ray (fluoroscopy) for guidance, the doctor inserts the catheter into an access vein, usually in the neck.
The interventionalist at Children's National Hospital will make a small incision where the port will sit, usually on the upper chest, between the nipple and collarbone. A small pocket will be made for the port to sit in, then the catheter is tunneled upward toward the neck and inserted into the vein, then threaded down so the tip is in the large vessel that leads toward the heart.