What Needles do you use?

[Meinuk]

In my never ending quest to get my fistula to work at optimum performance.  (I am demanding!)  I am wondering what needles other people use.

Me:

Venous - Medi system 16 gauge 1 1/4 inch blunt
Arterial - Medi system 16 gauge 1" sharp  (my buttonhole is just a mass of scar tissue and eventually, I'll have to establish another one....)

I noticed that there are some new blunts out there:  http://www.medisystems.com/hemodialysis/buttonhole/ADV152-11086ForWeb+ADV290SteriPickReduced.pdf

And I've asked my nurse to order them in 16 inch length.

Right now, my pressures are running in the high 100's (average 190 arterial and 170 venous) I am hoping that if I go to a 15 gauge maybe my pressures will come down.

[Adam_W]

When I was still able to use my graft, I used Baxter 15g x 1". I started on 16g, but because of flow problems I had to switch to 15g. They helped with flow for a while, but as the graft deteriorated, the biggest needle in the world wouldn't have helped. Now I'm strictly using my chest catheter, so I'm not using needles at all. As much as I hate needles, I still wish I could get a good graft/fistula, because I hate having this bloody catheter in my chest.

Adam

[charee]

i use nipro 15g x 1 inch blunts, pressures are arterial 140 venous 120, but with that said the next time i get an order they could be a different brand, hope not as these seem  to be working really well

[jbeany]

15 gauge x1" "Wingeaters" are the only thing I was offered.  That's what they are supposed to use at my clinic, so that's what I get, like it or not.  I can't stand the annoying little plastic protector that is supposed to cover the needle after it's pulled, so I just snap them off.

[silverhead]

I use Baxter 15g , 1 inch sharps and blunts, the sharps are used after the day off, because the buttonholes seem to close off to much to penetrate without lots of pushing and pain for Sharon, after that the blunts work fine. I too just discovered that I can snap off those darn "covers", wish I would have learned it sooner.....
Tom

[terry3004]

Both of my needles are 15g 1" blunts.  I run about 200 on both sides at a blood flow rate of 600.

[Roadrunner]

NxStage now owns Medisytems.  Hopefully we will now be able to order out blunts from them with our supplies.  I have to go in to the center each time I need a new supply. 

I see that the needles are siliconized with Medisystems SlipCoat advanced silicone lubricant.  Does anyone know if this is a problem with taking labs?  I thought I remembered reading once that if you use silicone to slip in the needles they must be flushed well before labs.  I also know the center said saline will upset the labs.  Can anyone set me straignt?

My husband is using #15 Medisystem button hyole needles.  Almost each time I insert them and tape it I see a white spot in the tubing.  The first time I thought a small piece of plastic was in the tube.  I now think it is an air bubble for some reason.  It seems to disappear when I bleed the line.  Has anyone else noticed this?  Can someone tell me what it is?  Should I be worried?  I've been using these for about 3 weeks.

Roadrunner

[petey]

My husband uses 15 gauge buttonhole (blunt) needles -- no protective cover, thank goodness (i hate those things).

[RichardMEL]

I'm on 15 guage needles also. FX80 dialyzer....

[Bill Peckham]

Both of my needles are 15g 1" blunts.  I run about 200 on both sides at a blood flow rate of 600.

What machine are you using? my NxStage goes up to 500 (which seems too fast for me)

[Bill Peckham]

In my never ending quest to get my fistula to work at optimum performance.  (I am demanding!)  I am wondering what needles other people use.

Me:

Venous - Medi system 16 gauge 1 1/4 inch blunt
Arterial - Medi system 16 gauge 1" sharp  (my buttonhole is just a mass of scar tissue and eventually, I'll have to establish another one....)

I noticed that there are some new blunts out there:  http://www.medisystems.com/hemodialysis/buttonhole/ADV152-11086ForWeb+ADV290SteriPickReduced.pdf

And I've asked my nurse to order them in 16 inch length.

Right now, my pressures are running in the high 100's (average 190 arterial and 170 venous) I am hoping that if I go to a 15 gauge maybe my pressures will come down.

At what blood pump speed?

[Meinuk]

At what blood pump speed?

I start at 400 and usually go up to 450 when my venous pressure goes below 190.

I'm picking up 15 gauge on Friday morning at my clinic visit.

[terry3004]

Both of my needles are 15g 1" blunts.  I run about 200 on both sides at a blood flow rate of 600.

What machine are you using? my NxStage goes up to 500 (which seems too fast for me)

It depends on how your clinic sets up your NxStage.  They can program the max blood flow allowable.  Mine can't go any higher than 600.  I have to get there in stages, though.

I start at 200 just to make sure everything is flowing ok.  Then I go to 300 and check again.  Then to 400, and go up in steps of 50 from there.  I usually have to stay at 450, 500, and 550 for about 15 min each while I wait for my needles to settle in.  I will eventually wind up at 600.

[KR Cincy]

I'm using 16 sharps for both arterial and venous and max out at 450. I guess eventually we'll move to 15's but don't see any hurry because they prefer me at 450 anyway, so it's all working out ok.

[Bill Peckham]

Wow Terry that is the fastest I have ever heard. What is your FF?

[terry3004]

My FF is 30.  20L dialysate in 2:15

[skyedogrocks]

Rob uses 15 inch Wingeaters right now with a speed of 500.  That's about to change soon as he'll be tapping into his new graft, going back to 17's for a while.