If you run on a NxStafe System you will become very familiar with the usual warnings and errors and how to resolve them.

A problem I have begun having more and more frequently is a recurring error 35. Error 35 – Check Waste Line: Waste Line Pressure High (Red Alarm). This error indicates the waste line is occluded (or blocked).

Sounds simple enough, either the effluent line has become clamped, blocked or crimped. Simply find and remove the problem.

Well, after using the NxStage for almost five years, more and more waste blockage forms in the line that runs from the back of the NxStage to disposal. When I first started using the NxStage it was recommend that I clean the effluent line once per month with a 10% bleach solution and water. Later I was told to reduce the number of days between cleanings to ten days. Since then I have reduced it to nine days, but that was still not enough.

Yesterday while running I got my first error 35 when I had 21 minutes left to dialyze. I checked that all clamps were open, I had my partner check the end of the effluent line to ensure it was not blocked and restarted. I ran for one more minute and got another error 35. This is a red alarm that shuts down the pump, so it takes two minutes to restart.

Argh –  the dreaded addition of time to when I get off. Following the directions in the NxStage book, simply press stop, then restart treatment. After doing this I multiple times I continued to get another error 35 after each minute of treatment. Now my 21 minutes of remaining treatment would take over an hour.

To clear the blockage in the effluent line I had my partner fill a 60ML syringe with tap water, and add a connector to the end of the syringe, then stop the NxStage, clamp both yellow clamps on the effluent line, separate the connections at the yellow clamps, screw on the syringe, Note: make sure to connect the syringe to the short effluent line that  goes into the Pureflow, NOT the longer line that goes back into the cartridge, and then push all 60 ML of water through the effluent line that enters the PureFlow. When complete, disconnect the syringe, reconnect the effluent line, open both  yellow clamps, and restart treatment.

This procedure corrected the blockage in the effluent line and allowed me to complete my entire treatment without another error 35. And, I also changed the time between cleaning the effluent line from nine days to seven days to further prevent this from recurring.

You may also find my blog entry on Do You Need to Shorten Your Effluent Line helpful with resolving recurring error 35s.