Your dialysis access — whether it’s a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter, arteriovenous (AV) fistula or AV graft — is your lifeline. Taking care of it properly is critical to your good health. Here are some tips for access care when you do home dialysis:
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap or use waterless hand sanitizer or gel before catheter care.
- When caring for your exit site, always start close to the catheter and move away to prevent pushing germs toward your exit site, commonly referred to as the "bull’s eye technique."
- Apply doctor-prescribed antibiotic cream to your exit site every day.
- Use your Alcavis disinfectant scrub prior to connecting and disconnecting each time.
- Look at the areas under and around your exit site and catheter for drainage. If drainage is occurring, notify your nurse about any:
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redness around your exit site
- pain at your exit site or tunnel
- cracks, slits or holes in your catheter tubing (if you see any, place a clamp on your catheter and notify your nurse immediately)
Home hemodialysis (HHD): AV fistula or graft
- Before performing HHD, carefully wash your access with soap and water.
- Keep your access clean and watch for swelling, redness, drainage or tenderness in the area.
- Avoid trauma to the area. Injuries to your access or access arm can be life-threatening.
- Use the following guidelines to prevent your access from clotting:
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Do not wear tight watches, bracelets or tight clothing.
- Avoid sleeping on your access.
- Try not to do any heavy lifting. Don’t rest purses or bags on your access area.
- Avoid blood draws in access arm.
- Do not allow blood pressure to be taken on the access arm.
- Avoid IV insertion in access arm.
Follow these steps for keeping your "lifeline" infection-free and working for a long time. Whenever you have concerns or questions about your access, always consult your home dialysis nurse.