New to catheter...red 22 alarms on start up

[cbatsea]

Hubby just had to get a catheter....lost his fistula.....but every time we start treatment, we get a Red 22 (effluent pressure) alarm.  There is nothing kinked, or closed...and with a catheter, you cannot "reposition" the arterial access!  Anyone have a clue?

[lulu836]

I have to be hooked up to the dialyzer "backwards" for that reason.  Swap the lines with each other and see if that helps.  Also there are times when the position of the lumens are not positioned correctly. .  They can be sticking to the vessel walls.  I solve that with a good crisp slap to my chest and a deep cough.  I have ventricular tachycardia so I found out about solving the catheter thing while stopping the fibrillation with that technique.  The last solution is a "cath wash".  They put tPa in the lines which are clamped off to prevent it getting into your bloodstream.  The dwell time is either 1 hour or 30 minutes.  When time is up the catheter is flushed thoroughly and then you are hooked to the dialyzer for your regular session.

[lulu836]

Double post.

[cbatsea]

Thank you!

[lulu836]

Did either work for you?