Dialysis did not work this morning

[eroomk]

 My husband went in for his scheduled dialysis this morning at 6am, but left less than an hour later. The nurses worked on plugging him in for over 30 minutes, then gave up because his catheter would not work (blood would not draw out).  Has anybody had this happen?  The catheter was surgically implanted approximately 2 weeks ago.  It is now 6pm, 12 hours later and we still have not heard from the doctor.  I am starting to get a little concerned because his last cretin level was hovering around 9....




EDITED: Thread moved to proper section: "Dialysis-General Discussion" – Rerun, Moderator

[cookie2008]

That happened a couple of times when I had my permacaths in, they would put tpa in and let it sit for an hour then took it out and the cath worked.  Did the center call the surgeon who can replace it or did you have to.

[monrein]

My first permacath was too long and it sat down too far and up against the wall of the atrium in the heart.  The had to put a new one in after only a week. 
Did they try reversing the connections?  Most likely, since that seems to be standard practice. 

[sullidog]

Yeah did they try to reverse it? Also When I have access problems, I page both my vascular sergeon and my neph, one out of the two will respond, page them until they get annoyed.
Troy

[eroomk]

Well the dialysis center's protocol is to try to get things going, and after 30 minutes send the patient home and call the doctor in addition to rescheduling the patient the next day where they can spend up to 2 hours making attempt #2 with some type of solution (??).  Yesterday his dialysis treatment worked, and of course he was wiped out.  He wasn't happy to hear that he had to have dialysis the next day again (approximately 16 hours later).  He has lost 30 lbs in the last 3 1/2 weeks (since renal failure).  He just cannot keep food down, or in.  I think I read this is common.  What a very unpleasant "common" occurrence!  The more I learn, the more I just feel for everybody who goes through this.

[sullidog]

That's an interesting protocall, at my center and most of them I know if it doesn't work, time to go to the hospital to have it checked out, or if it's a catheter they will try to fix it then and there.
Troy

[eroomk]

Being new in this endeavor, I felt it was odd as well.  If someone needs dialysis it just didn't make sense to send them home without it.  It seems to be working fine now.

[Brightsky69]

MY cath would clog up all the time because my blood is so thick. They would end up sending me to the hospital.

[eroomk]

I just found out that the reason it was not working properly is because his blood count is bad, and he is anemic with very low platelet and they don't want to give him blood thinners... hence the inconvenience...

[billybags]

eroomk, Thank goodness, at least you know the reason why it did not work.

[eroomk]

Billybags you got that right!