Apologies for the off topic post but I thought this might be a good place to ask my question.

A couple of weeks ago a Permacath chest catheter was inserted so that I could start dialysis. I was instructed to keep it clean and dry but did not get any advice as to what - if and - activities should be avoided.

My question: Is it reasonably safe to shoot a medium bore (.270 Win.) with this in place? Or, is this really a bad idea.

I've asked the doc who did the work and he said it's better not to. But he's from India and has probably never fired any sort of firearm in his lifetime. He may also have other, more personal, objections.

I would appreciate opinions from someone who is familiar with both chest catheters and rifle recoil.

Moderators - feel free to move or remove if this is inappropriate.

sent you a PM

Thank You!

Wish you the best, but this is a proper question for you doctor.

Unfortunately, we don't seem to be able to talk to doctors anymore, we get a web thing, an intranet thing. I'd still try to ask your doctor.

lavaca is, of course, correct. It is never wise to seek medical or legal advice from strangers on the internet.

In a perfect world, my doctor would be a hunter or at least a firearms owner who would understand the actual risk. Unfortunately I don't need a dentist and I don't live in Minnesota. Ideally, my doc would know about recoil (and its effect) and be able to give an honest recommendation without fear of a lawsuit if things went wrong.

But that's not the case.

The doctors I've spoken with are all foreigners. They come from countries with no culture of firearms ownership and their only experience may have been patching up crime victims. They do not understand the importance of hunting to those who participate in it. At best, the doctor considers hunting simply as just another hobby, like photography or ham radio. That's assuming they don't oppose it entirely.

And then consider today's litigious society. What doctor in their right mind would OK an activity that they don't fully understand?

I'm a hunter and willing to take a calculated risk. But I don't want to do anything foolish or outright dangerous. Unfortunately I am forced to get information is where I can find it.

Well I am not a doctor but I could tell you what I would do. But then again, I drink too much, jump out of airplanes, drive motorcycles, drive way too fast, stitch up my own wounds, chase lions around the countryside, and then do some really dumb stuff so....

I am an orthopedic surgeon. I am a shoulder specialist and answer questions like this all the time after rotator cuff repairs and shoulder replacements. I just need a little more info to answer this one. Do you shoot right handed or left handed? where exactly was the permacath placed? right side of chest or left side of chest? and can you lock the gun into your shoulder so that the butt of the stock does not rest against the catheter>

I don't know what is the issue with your health...but I know that many rounds of a medium bore will stress my whole right side.Also,after many shooting sessions with my Lott I found it uncomfortable to sleep on that side and even use the cars seat belt for a long time.
You could use a muzzle break to reduce the recoil from you 270 and shoot the least number of rds possible if you feel OK.I am not a doctor but just offering my opinion.

I'm a surgeon who puts these dialysis catheters in all the time. If it's on your shooting shoulder I'd say NOT to do it. hopefully you won't need that catheter long.

Just a little more info, some of these catheters are soft and flexible, and they may squish down under recoil, but I'd worry about the catheter fracturing under even light recoil, especially getting crushed against the clavicle (collarbone). I end up replacing them a lot for infection and clotting.

Unfortunately these catheters are best put on the right side (assuming you shoot right handed), and if you're going to be on long term dialysis I'd look into getting a fistula for multiple reasons, not just to get rid of the catheter.

Maybe it's time to seriously consider a "hand rifle" like the Contender, Wichita Arms, Freedom Arms, XP-100, etc.