Dialysis Ports exhausted

[channah7]

My husband has been on dialysis for over 5 years since he was 45 years old. He has had about 8 failed ports and about 10-12 different catheters installed. He just received the Hero graft port last week and it has already stopped working. The surgeon said there is nothing else he can do. How do we find out if there is more options for us?

[seneca_beep NKF Ambassador]

I am a 17 year dialysis Patient and I recently went thru this same obstacle. Check for vascular specialist in area as well as checking with kidney transplant surgeons.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

How is it failing? Has he had working fistulas? Grafts? Are you in the U.S.? Have you tried to find another vascular surgeon for a second opinion? I've seen 4-5 different vascular surgeons over my 15+ years on dialysis. I've had 12-13 dialysis accesses in my arms that at one point worked and eventually failed except the current bovine graft. I've probably had 3-4 dozen chest, neck and groin catheters as well. It can be so exhausting mentally when they fail. I had 7 episodes of sepsis when I was using catheters all caused by staff failing to use clean protocol. I now have (2 years) one of the greatest vascular guys I've known. He put in a bovine graft which has served me well for 2+ years and NO infections!!!! Its all about finding a surgeon who is willing to go the extra mile. My surgeon tells me there are always other options and he talks about a few other surgeons he will refer me to if we hit a hurdle. Send me a private message if you'd like to talk. Blessings

[shenaz05 in reply to KidneyCoach]

hi there.how u doing? am shenaz.my mum has been diagnosed with esrd since this february.she is 69 yrs. i was wondering if i can ask you what's the bovine gratf please. could you send me ur email please.many thanks.god bless.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to shenaz05]

A bovine graft is a vessel from a cow that is sewn into a persons artery to form the A/V access for dialysis. Some surgeons use them, but not all. I can send you a photo of what they look like before use. I'll send you my email. Blessings

[coaching]

Hi Channah7

I have been on dialysis for 25 years and had been in the same position you are in with very poor vascular access. Last year i had a hero graft and it failed too and supposedly that was my last option. I am back on one single lumen tunnelled line now. Has he ever had femoral line/port, femoral graft? Get a second opinion if possible.

All the best

[Kari19821115]

Can your husband get a thigh graft? What about his other arm? I’ve been on dialysis 9 years. I’d get a second opinion from another surgeon.