I have a patient on Dialysis: I am a home... - Kidney Dialysis

Kidney Dialysis

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I have a patient on Dialysis

LJ83 profile image
LJ83
6 Replies

I am a home health nurse. I have a gentleman who started dialysis 12/16. His fistula did not mature and his access point is still through his port. He would like a graft put in, does anyone else have a graft?

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LJ83 profile image
LJ83
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6 Replies
SharaiG_NKF profile image
SharaiG_NKFPartner

Hello LJ83,

Welcome to the NKF Kidney Dialysis Community! We have some general information about caring for the hemodialysis access which your patient may find helpful. For more information please visit us at: kidney.org/atoz/content/hem... .

rick54 profile image
rick54

i had a graft put in and last just for a month or more we think got infected during surgery so had to take it out, and put chext port catheter in. just had a stomach catheter put in cause going to switch to pd so i can do the cycler at night instead of going to a center 3 times a week. ask any question i'll try and answer, he should try a fistula first they last longer and dont use a foreiign object etc.

rick54 profile image
rick54

ps, just read about fistula not maturing so guess you tried that,lol you have other arm maybe, but i didn't want them to mess up my right arm so decided on going the pd route which i think is better in alot of ways then incenter hemo, you don't get stuck with needles, have some techs who take short cuts ,maybe don't clean the machines and chairs as well as they should etc. pd is more like your actual kidneys since your doing exchanges every day, or nightly

Rwashing profile image
Rwashing

I have a graft. My veins were too small for a fistula. I had it put in when I first started dialysis. It is working fine. I suffer with Lupus and my body tends to reject foreign objects. Early on I developed blood clots in my catheter. I had to go on blood thinners and was on them when they put the graft in. That may have something to do with its success. My advice is make sure you have a good doctor and do everything he or she says. Like do not lay on it or lift heavy items. I hope this helps.

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Mass628 profile image
Mass628

If you exercise the arm the fistula is in it matures faster. I used a stress ball whenever I could and it mAtured my fistula for use in 3 months from placement. Graphs don't last very long and are prone to infections. Hope this helps you. 😀

REVRay profile image
REVRay

I don't have a graft but it did take 5 months for my fistula to mature. I had to have the vascular surgeon twice do separate procedures. Took time but has worked now for 2 1/2 years. Maybe give it time.

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