For the management of home haemodialysis emergencies
Clinical Presentation
Errors made in connecting dialysis, or a fault with the dialysis machine, may cause an air embolism to be administered through the patient’s fistula, causing acute neurological symptoms, including:
Stroke
Seizure
Unresponsiveness
Exclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Risk Assessment
Early disconnection from the dialysis machine is vital, but be prepared for haemorrhage from fistula site
Take care to avoid unnecessary contact with blood as serum hepatitis is common in dialysis patients
Inspect venous return lines of shunt for air bubbles/pockets