Goren notices what he calls a "stent" in the mother's chest. He calls
it a "stent", and the mother confirms that name and function.
Actually, chemo is administered through a "mediport" or "medport".
A "stent" is a cage wire mesh-like device that is compressed before it is
placed in arteries (usually cardiac arteries) to open up circulation. To treat
arteriosclerotic narrowing of arteries.
AV fistula's where a piece of a vein from your arm or leg and sewing it into a nearby artery, and allowing the sewn-in vein to enlarge and become thicker, like an artery is another option for access to the circulatory system. One solution used in dialysis.
AV graft's, where a prosthetic graft is sewn between an artery and vein in your arm or leg. Also, for used for dialysis, but less frequently than fistula's.
Goren ask's the victim's mother if she has a stent installed for her chemo. That is not what a stent is for, a stent is a metal or plastic tube inserted into a vein, artery, vessel or duct to keep the passageway open in cases of diseases that cause narrowing like atherosclerosis, they can also be used to prevent the buildup of plaque. There are two different types of devices installed to give access for chemo and other intravenous drugs. The most common is known as a PICC line (Peripherally inserted central catheter), it is a form of intravenous access where a catheter enters the skin at a peripheral site, usually the underside of the upper arm. The catheter is then guided into the large vein coming out of the heart, the superior vena cava, and comes to rest just outside the atrium, which is the entrance to the upper chambers of the heart. PICC lines are used when continued, but temporary access is needed. they are usually in place for a few weeks to a few months. The other device used to give fast intravenous access is called a port, also called a port-a-cath, which is what the victim's mother appears to have. With a port a disc shaped reservoir with a rubber membrane on the top where the needle enters is placed under the skin on the upper part of the chest, usually above one of the breasts. A catheter connects to the port and is then fed down into the same vein as a PICC line is, the superior vena cava. A port is installed when long term intravenous access will be needed, like in people with long term aggressive cancer or auto-immune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus, most of the drugs used to treat auto-immune conditions are given via intravenous infusion. Unlike a PICC line a port is designed to be left in place for years.