Graft, anyone? ........

[TrophyWife]

I smile because I'm so happy that I have a place to go to get the answers I need! Thanks so much!
The doctors are talking artificial graft on the right arm for my father instead of the Permacath.......
I talk to the doctors more about this tomorrow....
I hear they don't last as long as the fistula? What is the "life expectancy" of a graft? and/ or are there any special instructions/advice I need to know?

**My father had a stroke Friday after his dialysis. He is in the hospital now. Doing much better than Friday night, Thank God. Walking and Talking. They don't know if his blood pressure went low....or what. No answers....now he's scared to do dialysis Monday.
I hope everyone is having a Great Weekend and I do appreciate all the advice I get here.

[goofynina]

Hi Trophywife,  and We smile cuz you are here,  i am sorry i cant answer your question though, but i did want to tell you thank you for being a member and coming to us to have some questions answered.  I hope your dad continues to get better each day and that you are staying strong....And i also hope your having a great weekend as well.   Please continue to let us know how your father is progressing.  Thank you

[kitkatz]

What I was told is a graft will last 2 to 5 years.  I have been lucky mine is going into its sixth year. 

[Epoman]

What I was told is a graft will last 2 to 5 years.  I have been lucky mine is going into its sixth year. 

My Graft lasted me about 5 years, only clotted once and then when it clotted the second time I just used my fistula.

[Rerun]

Go with the graft.  How long will it last?  When you are on dialysis all you do is take "one day at a time" anyway.  As long as it lasts "today" don't worry about tomorrow.

[goofynina]

Very well said Rerun, i'm gonna live by them words myself...

[Bajanne]

I read these posts with great interest since I have a graft.  No one told me anything about how long it would last!!!  I was here thinking that this thing would last the same time as a fistula.
Rerun, you are totally right!!!  We renal patients learn to live one day at a time.

[Epoman]

Go with the graft.  How long will it last?  When you are on dialysis all you do is take "one day at a time" anyway.  As long as it lasts "today" don't worry about tomorrow.

I wish I could not worry, that's what I do best.  I try to take it one day at a time but it's hard.

[kevno]

I agreed to have a graft in 2001 signed the forms for a graft. Went down for the operation. The Surgeon in his wisdom decided to try to start the old fistula. Which had been block for over one year. So he started to cut the block fistula from my wrist. After 3 hours of cutting up the vein, he had to call in a vascular surgeon to help with the operation. In the end it took nearly five hours, the cut was from my wrist to the top inside of my arm. It took 44 staples. I was expecting a small operation and a graft. But no. The only bit of the fistula that is working is a two inch stretch. Now I have to live with lines in my neck to dialyzes.

[angieskidney]

I agreed to have a graft in 2001 signed the forms for a graft. Went down for the operation. The Surgeon in his wisdom decided to try to start the old fistula. Which had been block for over one year. So he started to cut the block fistula from my wrist. After 3 hours of cutting up the vein, he had to call in a vascular surgeon to help with the operation. In the end it took nearly five hours, the cut was from my wrist to the top inside of my arm. It took 44 staples. I was expecting a small operation and a graft. But no. The only bit of the fistula that is working is a two inch stretch. Now I have to live with lines in my neck to dialyzes.

Wow that is horrible! They are allowed to do that even though you signed for a graft?? Don't you hate it when they do their own thing after one set of plans was already established?

[jbeany]

Grafts are second choice over fistulas because they wear out after 5 years.  (You poke more holes in it every time you hook up, and unlike the fistula, it doesn't heal.)  I have one (well, two, but only one that works) because all the attempts they made at a regular fistula failed - I have little 2 mm veins that just won't hold up.

On the bright side - my cat loves it.  She puts her head on my arm and just purrs and purrs!!

[ODAT]

I am still confused on how the graft actually works. It is one tube and two needles go in (upper and lower part of tube). One takes blood out and one puts one back, but isn't it still the same vein?

Mom just got her graft yesterday. Should we be able to hear it? Is it only grafts that you can hear or is it fistulas too?

I asked doc about buttonholing with grafts and he got a confused look on his face. Why don't all doctors know about this? Can you buttonhole with a graft? I was also thinking that we could 'tatoo' an arrow directly to the needle insertion point so they don't poke holes all over the place. Wouldn't that make it leak? I'm sorry to sound so stupid. I'll stop now and finish my coffee. 

[willieandwinnie]

ODAT Yes, the tube is both venus and arterial (one in top and one in bottom). You should be able to hear the buzzzzzz, and feel it also. Fistulas also buzz. You cannot buttonhole a graft. They do not heal like fistulas because they are made of man made material. Make use when they start using it that they use the ladder technique on it. If they use the same place all the time the graft won't last very long because the tubing will not close over. We were lucky and have a very good vascular surgeon that knew his stuff and explained it very clearly. Anymore questions, ask away.

[ODAT]

Mom gave me a funny look when I bent my ear down to her graft. Told her you're supposed to be able to hear it. I heard nothing though. She is doing good. My son and I spent the day with her yesterday. Took her to my cousin's open mic night. He played piano, guitar, and sang. He's very talented. We went to eat at Friendly's after. Late dinner - around 9pm. Was doing fine til I got a piece of PLASTIC in my mouth! I felt sick. Waitress comes over and I show her. She asks if I want another. Said, nope I'm done. She walks away 'wonder how that got in there.' Oh don't even... anyway they didn't charge me for my dinner.

So the next time I see her will be a couple days. How close do I have to get to the graft to hear it? What does it mean if there's no sound? I mean, if she isn't using it yet, how do they even know it went in okay?

take care

[Chris]

With my graft, I can hear mine when my ear is right up against it in a mostly quiet place, or I use my stethescope.

[jbeany]

Get a scope.  It should be easier to hear with it.  And yes, it should be making a whooshing sound.  If it isn't, it may have clotted and it needs to be looked at ASAP.  My first one clotted off within a week, and couldn't be fixed.

[okarol]

Jenna's first fistula never made a peep. It had to be redone about 3 weeks later.

The next one had a buzz from the minute it was in.

[Lucinda]

I hard three grafts before I got a "goer".  I only start using mine in about a month's time but I have had it now for nearly two years.  I have been able to fend off dialysis but the time has come but with two years warning, I am pretty organised and ready.  I am going into it with a lot of knowledge thanks to you guys. xx