Clotted Dialyzer Flashcards
1
Q
What is a clotted dialyzer?
A
Dialyzer membrane has clotted
2
Q
What is the cause?
A
Insufficient anticoagulation (also can be due to accompanying disease processes)
3
Q
What are the symptoms?
A
Decrease in VP with no change in BFR, visible clots in the venous drip chamber on line, rapid filling of transducer protectors (if applicable) dark blood, unable to rinse back patient’s blood
4
Q
What is the intervention?
A
Ensure proper use of heparin, monitoring pressures, maintaining proper BFR
5
Q
What is the prevention?
A
Respond to machine alarms immediately as blood that is not circulating tends to clot despite heparin
use intermittent saline flushes and add additional saline to UF goal
refer for internal access placement
