Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Complications and Emergency Management

Question 1

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is most commonly defined as a systolic blood pressure drop of more than:

Accepted Answer

20 mmHg or to below 90 mmHg systolic

Answer

IDH is typically defined as a systolic BP drop ≥20 mmHg or a decline to below 90 mmHg, often accompanied by symptoms requiring intervention.

Question 2

The most appropriate immediate response when a patient develops severe muscle cramps during dialysis is:

Accepted Answer

Administer hypertonic saline or dextrose, and reduce the ultrafiltration rate

Answer

Muscle cramps during dialysis result from rapid osmotic shifts and volume depletion; treatment includes reducing ultrafiltration rate and administering hypertonic solutions.

Question 3

Air embolism during hemodialysis most commonly enters the extracorporeal circuit through:

Accepted Answer

Loose connections or tubing cracks on the arterial (pre-pump) side

Answer

Air most commonly enters the circuit through loose needle connections, cracked tubing, or accessory ports on the arterial (negative pressure) side of the blood pump.

Question 4

The immediate action when air embolism is suspected during hemodialysis is:

Accepted Answer

Clamp the venous line, stop the blood pump, and position patient in left lateral Trendelenburg

Answer

Clamping the venous line and stopping the pump prevents more air from entering; left lateral Trendelenburg traps air in the right ventricle apex away from the pulmonary vasculature.

Question 5

Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome is most likely to occur in which patient population?

Accepted Answer

First-time dialysis patients with very high BUN levels

Answer

Dialysis disequilibrium occurs most often in first-time dialysis patients with severely elevated BUN, as rapid urea removal creates osmotic gradients causing cerebral edema.

Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Complications and Emergency Management