About Hemodialysis; Indications; Contraindications; Some Side Effects Of Hemodialysis - Fresenius Medical Care 2008T Operator's Manual

About Hemodialysis...

Indications

Hemodialysis is prescribed by physicians for patients with acute or chronic renal failure,
when conservative therapy is judged inadequate. Dialysis therapy may be intermittent or
continuous.

Contraindications

There are no absolute contraindications to hemodialysis, but the passing of a patient's blood
through an extracorporeal circuit may require anticoagulation to prevent blood clotting. In
addition, the parameters of dialysis should be optimized to avoid discomfort to the patient.
Many patients are taking medicinal therapy prescribed by their physicians. Due to the dialysis
treatment, some of the medication may be removed from the patient's blood thereby lowering
the therapeutic level in the blood. In other cases, medications may not be excreted as quickly
as expected with patients with renal insufficiency and the level may be higher than expected.
Therefore, the prescribing physician should determine the appropriate dosage of the medicine
to obtain the desired medicinal response in the patient.

Some Side Effects of Hemodialysis

Dialysis therapy occasionally causes hypovolemia, hypervolemia, hypertension, hypotension
and related symptoms, headache, nausea, cramping or other muscular discomfort in some
patients. Hypothermia, hyperthermia, itching, anxiety, convulsions, seizure, and other
neurologic symptoms associated with dialysis dementia may also be manifested by the
patient. These symptoms are thought to occur if the patient's blood volume or electrolyte
balance is not maintained within acceptable limits. Other, more serious, complications
arising from dialysis, such as hemorrhage, air embolism, or hemolysis, can cause serious
patient injury or death. The prescribing physician must understand that prescribing
insufficient bicarbonate may contribute to metabolic acidosis; excessive bicarbonate may
contribute to metabolic alkalosis. Both conditions are associated with poor patient outcomes,
including increased risk of mortality. Proper control of all elements of dialysis may prevent
or control these physiological reactions or complications.
Pyrogenic reactions may occur which can result in patient injury. Generally it is thought that
these may be controlled by maintaining the dialysate solution within the chemical and
bacteriologic limits (see Water Quality on page 265 of the "Machine Specifications" section
for more information). Failure to use these standards for water can also lead to accumulated
toxic effects. A regular program for disinfection and testing of the water treatment system,
piping, inlet lines, filters, concentrate feed containers or system, and the dialysate delivery
machine must be established and followed. This program will vary from facility to facility.
Infections or pyrogen reactions may also result from contamination of the extracorporeal
circuit or inadequate procedures used to reuse dialyzers.
2008T Machine Operator's Manual P/N 490122 Rev N
About Hemodialysis...
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