Bill Peckham, the author of the excellent patient advocacy and home dialysis blog: dialysis from the sharp end of the needle has been on dialysis since 1990 and home dialysis since 2001 where self-cannulates using the buttonhole method. Last year he posted a video on Youtube that I only came across today. It shows his technique of needle insertion. I have often wondered how patients manage to cannulate themselves at home and this demonstrates it very nicely. I am full of admiration for my patients.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
2 comments:
Renal Fellow Network encourages comments and discussion regarding the posts. Do not post any comments that are commercial or advertising in nature. Posts will be deleted if commercial or advertising comments are made. Internet users commenting on the Renal Fellow Network must post information which is true and correct to their knowledge. Sources to health/medical claims must be provided when relevant. Moderators reserve the right to erase, without notification, any comment they would judge inappropriate.
Awesome! I did PD for 6 months prior to transplant. That was a good choice for me.
ReplyDeleteThese days I position both needles antegrade, and I use the SteriPic to remove the scabs rather than the 20 gage needle in the video. The one thing I wish I had shown when I made the video is the site preparation.
ReplyDeleteI always wash my hands and fistula with antimicrobial soap, drying with paper towels. Once I am ready to start cannulating I wipe both sites with an alcohol prep pad before removing the scabs. Once the scabs are removed I wipe with povidone-iodine and wait for it to dry before wiping it away with a fresh alcohol wipe.
I've had my fistule for 23 years and have never had an infection. It can be done.