I saw a NxStage machine today during our clinic visit. Even though I have seen pictures I was surprised. It sure didn’t look much like a dialysis machine. I didn’t see a Blood Pump, no drip chambers, no heparin holder. How does it actually work anyone know? By the way it was said at clinic NxStage had told them they were working on making it fit nocturnal treatments.
Basicly, works as any other dialysis machine BUT without the complex mumbo jumbo!
There is a pump, you just don’t see it…in my setup no heparin is needed…personally, you know why they use heparin in-center?..to prolong the life of the dialyzer so they can use it again!..just my opinion, hehehe
Like a normal dialysis machine blood flows from arteral to the dialyzer and then returns back tot the body…there’s also dialysate flowing through the dialyzer…
The buttons in front control how much you want or is needed to be removed…
Works like any other dialysis machine but in my opinion, without the un-needed compexity…making it even a no-brainer can learn to use quickly…
Not sure about use of heparin being associated strictly with re-using dialyzers. I’ve been on hemodialysis 3-1/2 years of dialysis, 2-1/2 of them in centre, and the past year at home, I’ve always been on heparin and there has never been any re-use of dialyzers. They are used once and then they go straight in the garbage.
NxStage is conventional dialysis. It has all the same components as any other dialysis machine (except the mixing of dialysate part, since it uses bagged dialysate). They are just hidden inside instead of being on the front of the machine, and valves etc. are operated automatically using servo devices.
Pierre
I’ve been trawling the web to find out about hemodialysis machines, and some like the Baxter hemodialysis machines have an expensive installation required of a water purifier - approximate cost in South Africa R13,000-R15,000. Does the NxStage not needs this? Is the NxStage designed for nocturnal or day use, short or long term dialysis? What is the difference between all this. I’m suffering from information overload and just don’t know how to interpret everything. What about consumables, and the cost - what do you require? Does the machine have to be serviced regularly?
Heather
NxStage System One does not need that, no water purification system needed…
Only one power receptable and a drain…
…whenever your machine breaks down, in less than 24 hours they’ll swap it with a new one…in other words, as soon as you call NxStage and let them know your machine broke down they will ship you a new one in less than 24 hours…then the take the broken one…
As for supplies, you’d need at least to reserve a closet to store your supplies…