NxStage pre-setup time

[Simon Dog]

I am interested in learning what various centers are telling home hemo patients regarding how far in advance the cartridge and lines may be brought to step 23 prior to treatment.  The FMC clinic I go to tells me the corporate policy is 2 hours, however, NxStage tells me some patients bring it to step 23 and power off at night, then power on, snap/tap, and hook up to the dialysate in the AM for treatment.

[Angiepkd]

I was always told 2 hours by my DaVita nurse.  I think that is the standard answer.  She was an in-center RN before switching to NxStage home hemo trainer.  Maybe that is why she said 2 hours?

[amanda100wilson]

I generally set up in the morning and then leave it all day.

[PrimeTimer]

Our nurse told us we can stay on 23 for about 2 hours. Personally, I wouldn't want to go any longer than that but hey, that's because I'm paranoid of any moist environment (inside tubing) where bacteria could start to grow. I always tell my husband "Safety Comes First".

[Dannyboy]

I was told 2 hours max

[*kana*]

I have done the setup at night because my thoughts are if there is bacteria in there it would be there regardless of when I hooked things up.  The fda says 24hrs and many hospitals testing centers spike their IVs the day before.

[Maggie and Jeff]

I have let it run 23 for 24 hours.

Car says it can run 72 hours.

Last couple I let sit over night with the power off would not run later.

Usually 2 hour prime but may start going over night to reduce the air.

[cdwbrooklyn]

I was told 2 hours by my NxStage training nurse; however, another nurse who is on NxStage as a patient told me that 72 hours is the maximum time.  She told me that she runs her machine (set up everything pass the 23 mark) while she goes to work and when she comes home, she gets on it.  Also, she stated that she feels much better when she does that.   

[PrimeTimer]

I know this will sound completely foolish and being in an apartment, we probably haven't the room for it anyway but I swear, there are some nights when I wish that I could simultaneously be making a new SAK in one Pureflow machine while using a SAK in another for treatment. Kind of killing two birds with one stone, gitting-r-done.

[kporter85db]

There is actually a line in the NxStage programming menu that lets you set the maximum time a cartridge can be set up and still used. I think the factory preset is 73 hours.

[amanda100wilson]

I asked NxStage and was told 24 hours.  Cartridge will last 72.