Just curious about NxStage Qb, Qd, and Dialyzer

[JerseyGirl]

What dialyzer do you use on the NxStage?  What is your blood rate and dialysate flow rate and how long are your treatments?  What gauge is the needle - 14, 15 or 16.  What is the formula to determine KT/V? 

[Black]

The filter comes pre-attached to the disposable cartridge and is thrown away still attached to the cartridge.

Mike's blood flow rate starts at 200 ml/min, dialysate rate is 3.1 L/hr until he gets up to speed of 500 and rate of 8.5.  In about 2 hours, when he has removed all of the fluid, the rate is bumped up to 9.0  He currently uses 25 L of dialysate, which takes about 2:55 to 2:59, and processes about 88/89 L of blood.

The needle size is determined by the facility training nurse/neph.  Mike started building his buttonholes with a smaller needle than he currently uses, which is now a 15 gauge blunt.

I do not know which formula they use to compute the KT/V.

[silverhead]

For Sharon we still use 15 gauge sharp needles, still developing the buttonholes, flow rate of 450, Dyalisate rate of 7.7 for about an hour and 10 minutes until she reaches her .1 removal than increase rate to 8.1, 20 liters of Dyalisate and process 69 liters of blood, off after 2:32

No fluids or blood enter the machine, all fluids go through the "cartridge" the filter and all the fluid lines are attached to this and are disposed of after every treatment.

The center nurses calculate the KT/V and advise us of what it is, not sure how they do this on a six day a week treatment schedule.