Reaction to Graft

[Marsh]

I had a severe reaction to my graft that was inserted last Monday.  My skin is broken down and weeping.  The infection had gone down to sub-q tissue and clotted the graft.  On Friday, I had it removed.  Has anyone heard of a reaction like this?  The surgeon is not sure if the reaction is due to the adhesive dressings or the actual gortex/plastic.  I'm glad I don't need the graft yet!

[Rerun]

No I have not heard of that before.  I hope they figure something out.  I guess they could not use your own vein for some reason.

[petey]

Marvin's had two "reactions" to grafts (two different ones -- a couple of years apart).  His symptoms were not like yours; he ran a fever, the graft site was red and swollen and hot to the touch.  The first one, he never got to use.  Both were determined to NOT be infections -- I asked about that -- even though they had the same type of symptoms that you would have with an infection.  The second one, he used for about a month before he started having what his docs said was "rejection of the plastic in the graft."  But, then Marvin had two other grafts that he didn't have a reaction to and 14 perm caths that didn't have any problems (except that one that fell out).  At first, his doctors were concerned that they couldn't put any type of "plastic" in him, but ... oh, heck, they don't know for sure.  Marvin's body is not textbook -- he never has "typical" anything.

We're using a fistula now (Marvin's second -- the first one clotted off after his transplant and couldn't be re-used when he had to go back on dialysis), and ... knock on wood .. it's been a good one -- going on five years with the same one.

[Lucinda]

Read the book...seen the movie.  My graft did exactly the same thing.  They told me they were unable to take it out but they were going to put another one in but when they went to put the new one in, the old one just fell straight out of my arm.  It hadn't adhered to any tissue whatsoever.  New brand they were trying.  Put in the used and tested brand and I have had no problems since.  There are so many things you can have an allergic reaction to in relation to dialysis it really is a suck it and see process.  Hope all goes well with the next one. x

[Marsh]

Thanks everyone!  My surgeon is not sure what to do at this point.  At first, he said that he would put a new graft in my upper arm when he took out the one in my forearm.  Then we decided to just take it out and let everything heal before we did anything else.  My GFR is around 13-14, so I wanted to do the access early in case of any problems.  Glad I did! 

[circleNthedrain]

Hi Marsh, is a fistula not an option?  Please go to the "introduce yourself" section and tell us a little about yourself.  Welcome aboard!

[Loretta]

I had a reaction to one of the grafts.  It was a loop in my lower arm.  I was miserable with it for several weeks.  My arm was hot and swollen, but I finally got over that.  The Dr tried a cadaver graft, that didn't cause a reaction, but it clotted in an hour. 

[Marsh]

Thanks for the reminder, I couldn't remember if I had introduced myself or not.   Fistula is not an option, no veins bigger enough to use.

[circleNthedrain]

Hope they get the graft situation worked out soon!