Christmas on Dialysis: Like many people around the world, Christmas can be a tough time for those with Chronic Kidney Disease. Many patients face the festive period alone or in a hospital with only the hospital staff as company. Others face time on dialysis, attached to a machine for 4 or 5 hours out […]
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Nikki’s Story: Part 4, The Final Chapter – The Bright Side of Life The Bright Side of Life It was 2009. I’d put the hideous transplant saga behind me and moved back to the school where my career began as a parent helper in the 90’s. I loved it and made some fantastic friends. The
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What is a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter? In this article, we will describe what is a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter. A PD catheter is a soft, thin tube (catheter) which is placed through your tummy and into the peritoneum – to enable peritoneal dialysis to happen. It is about 30 cm (12 in) long and
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What is an arteriovenous graft (AVG)? An AV graft is an access option for haemodialysis patients with veins that are not strong enough for an arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula). Unlike an AV fistula, which directly connects an artery to a vein, an AV graft uses a small synthetic tube. One end of the graft attaches
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What is a haemodialysis line? In this article we will describe what is a haemodialysis line. A haemodialysis line (or catheter) is a soft plastic tube (twice the length and half the width of a pen) placed through the skin into one of the large veins in the neck (usually) or the groin at the
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What is an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for dialysis? In this article we will describe what is a fistula (or arteriovenous fistula, AVF) for dialysis. Key points An arteriovenous fistula is formed during an operation The surgeon joins a vein and an artery together in your arm, in preparation for dialysis A fistula enables haemodialysis to take
What is an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for dialysis? Read More »
My Mum is on Dialysis. Daniel’s Story. Daniel’s birth in 1993 was highly anticipated by the renal staff at Nottingham City Hospital. Until then, it was unheard of for an existing dialysis patient to successfully conceive and sustain a pregnancy. Daniel was the first baby, worldwide, born to a dialysis patient. “My earliest memory was
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Dialysis and your heart: how to keep it healthy. When we have kidney failure, the focus is often on our dialysis treatment. However, the most common cause of death in kidney patients is heart failure. This is because dialysis patients often suffer from other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or problems with
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What is a fistuloplasty and why do I need one? Dialysis patient Nikki Fretwell explains the procedure of a fistuloplasty. If you have an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), there is a possibility that you may need a fistula angioplasty in the future. A fistuloplasty, as it’s commonly known, is a non-surgical procedure to clear a blockage
What is a fistuloplasty and why do I need one? Read More »
