Recommended Blood Flow thro Fistula Needles

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Hi

Does anyone have any information about recommended blood flow rates through fistula needles?

From my experience, esp with FMC, the BFRs are part of the physician orders and specific the number --- I have seen, over and over, facilities cited for not following physician orders for BFR - Often techs change the BFR also without substantiating documentation as to why this was changed from the physician's orders -- This, again, can be seen over and over in survey findings..Some units have standing orders for this, however, when problems arise, techs often adjust the BFR without consulting with the RN -- whether this is part of your facility polices and procedures, or not, I don't know, However, what I do know is that often the RN will get hit with something the tech did, or did not do that affected patient care, or had the potential for a negative outcome. (sharing what I have been aware of as a result of reading thousands of surveys from throughout the US, in hopes it will help)

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Specializes in Nephrology-Dialysis.

17G 200-250ml/min

16G 250-350ml/min

15G 350-450ml/min

Haven't used a 14G yet. (Man that would be big...)

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Many of the patients at my unit use 14g. We have about 20 pts who currently use 14g with the button hole needles and the rest use sharps. Most of them have great clearance...but as with anything it's what they do at home that hinders perfect numbers :eek:

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Specializes in Nephrology-Dialysis.

Is there anyone here using Supercaths in their units?

Supercath

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Specializes in Nephrology.

I got some samples of the supercath from Japan and pitched it to our research dept. Haven't heard anything yet. I was hoping to use them to develop buttonhole tracks

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Never heard of them but thank you for sharing

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Specializes in Nephrology-Dialysis.

Supercath is widely used in Europe nowadays.

Most of our first time patients on vacation from europe (I work in Central America) give me the "look" of hesitation when they see that the needles prepared on our kit are the conventional dialysis needles. They would then request for the "plastic" ones.

But we don't have them so therefore don't use them on our unit. The next time they come back for another vacation, they bring their own needles. :)

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Gambro's PR : Supercath™ CLS, AZ and single fluroplastic needles

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