Typical example of infrequent use (less frequently than once a week) is the use of venous access for chemotherapy to be repeated every three weeks. In most cases, the most appropriate choice will be a totally implantable central venous system, i.e. a 'port'.
It should be emphasized that the choice of a port involves two conditions: (a) that venous access is to be used for prolonged periods (longer than 4-6 months), and (b) that access is infrequent. In this sense, the use of the port for home parenteral nutrition (HPN) - which implies the use of the device every day or for several days a week - should be seen as an exception (usually related to a strong and motivated preference of the patient). Daily use of port for HPN is associated the risk of local complications of the skin above the reservoir, due to the persistence of the Huber needle for prolonged periods and / or to an excessive number of local punctures. Moreover, the literature data show a high incidence of port occlusion secondary to the lipids contained in the HPN solutions,; moreover, where there is a lumen occlusion, disobstruction is more difficult in ports than in external catheters. The potential advantage of the port in protection against extra-luminale bacterial contamination is nullified when the port is used every day (see the INS guidelines).
All the ports available on the market are central venous ports (i.e. with a tip placed in the superior vena cava, or in the right atrium, or in the inferior vena cava): there are no 'peripheral' venous ports.
However, central access can be obtained by puncturing and cannulating various veins: in the supra/infra-clavicular area (chest port), at the arm (PICC-port), or in the inguinal area (groin port). The choice will be guided above all by venous availability.