Intravenous port-a-caths are being ušed more and more frequently in patients treated with chemotherapy, who are indicated for home parenteral nutrition, and in patients requiring repeated urgent intravenous drug application. A significant increase in the number of patients requiring implantation of an intravenous port-a-cath is to be expected in the Czech Republic in the near future. Therefore all generál practitioners and nur-ses should be made familiar with intravenous drug applications via port-a-caths as well as with the appro-priate care required.

        Key words: intravenous port-a-cath, chemotherapy, emergency situation, generál practitioner.