Mike,

Believe you were a catheter user at one time.
What did they use to clean the exit sites with in Canada? On slow nocturnal did you clean daily or 3x a week?

Marty:

When I was on home hemo I dialysed six, sometimes seven, days a week. The catheter site itself was well protected by 3M waterproof seals that cover a large area and the the connection tube hangs just below. The machine end screws on to the catheter end and so a quick swabbing of the catheter end after each session was all that was needed. I showered and could even sneak a lap the pool occasionally. (Although public pools were forbidden by the doctors.)
The 3M covering was removed about twice a month by my wife. And like I said, they are easy on the skin.
Best,
Mike

Thanks for the info Mike. Am going to show it to our unit. I wonder if we clean to much. They have us cleaning the site with hiblicens at least 3 times a week and have gone through a spell of infections lately. We use the 3M pad for covering also but change it daily.

Marty:

Changing everday does seem a little too often.

Not to mention the cost of the 3M pads. I understand they run about a buck each.

I�ve never experienced a break in one nor loosening of the edges. And I�ll admit I sometimes five or six days without changing.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Michael Williams (edited 04-30-2002).]