Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle

HDC Touch Cannulation webinar Thursday 4/23

By Bill Peckham

The next Home Dialysis Central webinar is about touch cannulation. Touch cannulation can be used with the buttonhole technique. Instead of holding the "butterfly", you hold the tubing. The idea is that you more naturally follow the established track and do not inadvertently hurt the buttonhole by enlarging the track.

If you want to sign up to see Stuart Mott, who invented the technique, you can watch a replay of the presentation.

It should be a very interesting presentation of some new information. I've been using the buttonhole technique for over eight years but there is always room for improvement. I changed the placement of my needles to antegrade, antegrade after a webinar with Dr. Agar - I had been placing my needles retrograde/antegrade for over 18 years. There is no better way to get CKD information in the comfort of your home than via these HDC webinars. Register and join the learning.

One set of buttonholes or two?

The question came up in an email - doing more frequent dialysis should you keep a couple sets of buttonholes going or use one set each treatment? As with many basic questions about dialysis - particularly around cannulation - there is not much data. If you watch the cannulaiton video I made three years ago you'll see I had two sets at the time.

Since the video I've gone to having a single set that I use each treatment. I made the switch after discussions on Home Dialysis Central - it was Pierre who suggested one set made more sense than two and I couldn't come up with a reason that was wrong. I've just done a quick HDC search - it may have been a few discussions but this thread  looks promising.

Basically, if the buttonhole is like a pierced ear it is a feature not a bug to use one set each time. I'll drop Dr. Agar a line to hear his position but for the last two years I've used the same set each treatment with no complaints.

I've just got in from Cleveland. I think the presentation went well - I'm very proud of NKC (and my association with this great organization) so it easy for me to fill 45 minutes on our history and governance structure. Thanks to Anna for guest blogging and giving me a break. I have no shortage of topics to blog about, it is finding the time while traveling that is a challenge. Thank you Anna.