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Clinical risks and complications in HD/HDF caused by technical problem

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2020

Abstract

Since the introduction of haemodialysis in clinical practice in mid of the last century, haemodialyzers and haemodialysis machines underwent remarkable technical improvement. On one side, it has lead to significant increase in dialysis efficiency, patient safety, and higher comfort for the operator.

On the other side, those improvements may have induced on the side of the patient and the operator false sense of safety believing that the advanced technology will by itself resolve all risks and adverse situations. However, it is far from being true.

Purely technical reasons or an operator s fault may still result in compromised dialysis efficiency (e.g. because of erroneously co-current flows in the dialyzer) or may even endanger the patient (e.g. blood loss to the environment, excessive alkalisation or its rate). The article gives an overview of the adverse processes and events and suggests measures to avoid them or at least minimize their negative impacts.