hemodialysis catheters - how long do they last?

[WishIKnew]

I've had my hemo cath in my neck for almost three weeks.  Three of the last four dialysis treatments it has been clogged and they've had to put medicine in it to get it to run at all.  They put the medicine in and wait an hour and then they can get it to work a little.  They want me to run at 400 but it's been running under 300.  The yellow light is always on, never the green, and there are a lot of red alarms.  So, should I be expecting a new cahteter soon?  Is this common and what do you suggest?  I have no fistula because I'm hoping to get back to PD as soon as my nephrologist clears me.....  Help!

[cattlekid]

I started dialysis in January and I've had two catheters so far.  The first one lasted me six weeks and the second one has lasted from March 9th until now.  The first one ran terribly, lots of alarms and problems.  This one has been trouble-free since March.  Only had to close with CathFlow (the medicine you are talking about) once or twice since March.  I'm hoping this catheter holds out until my Mom finishes testing to be a live donor - I really don't want another one b/c of the itchy stitches.

[sullidog]

I've had mine last a while, the first one 6 months, and it never went bad just got a permanet access, the other one 3 months, nothing wrong with it, just had to be pulled b/c of infection, and my last one 3 months pulled again do to infection. Some have lasted 2 years.

[The Lady]

I've had mine since February 6th and it had to be cleared 3 times so far.

They theoretically can last a long time if you don't get infected, but it is the access choice of last resort.

How much longer before you can do PD?

[aharris2]

My brother has had his for 3 1/2 years. Each end (venous and arterial) has been replaced once.

He has been using the same tunnel for 5 1/2 years. At the 2 year point the catheter fell most of the way out. Luckily they were able to get a wire in and save the tunnel. That's when the current catheter was placed.