Dialysis Complications and Emergency Management Flashcards
6 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Dialysis Complications and Emergency Management flashcards as text
A patient receiving hemodialysis begins experiencing chest pain, back pain, and the dialysate appears pink-tinged. The most likely cause is:
Answer: Dialyzer membrane rupture causing a blood leak
Pink-tinged dialysate with chest/back pain is a classic presentation of dialyzer membrane rupture, where blood leaks across the membrane into the dialysate.
When a blood leak detector alarm activates on the dialysis machine, the correct action is to:
Answer: Visually inspect the dialysate line and dialyzer; if confirmed, return blood only if safe or discard and use new dialyzer
A blood leak alarm requires visual confirmation; if confirmed, facility policy typically requires discarding the dialyzer to prevent blood-borne pathogen exposure through the dialysate.
Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias during hemodialysis?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is the most common life-threatening electrolyte disorder in ESRD patients and can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias if not corrected with dialysis.
A patient on hemodialysis develops sudden shortness of breath, chest tightness, and hives during treatment. This presentation most suggests:
Answer: Anaphylactic reaction to dialyzer or blood tubing
Sudden dyspnea, chest tightness, and urticaria are classic signs of anaphylaxis requiring immediate treatment cessation and emergency intervention.
The correct dialysate sodium concentration to help prevent intradialytic hypotension in a hemodynamically unstable patient is typically:
Answer: 135-145 mEq/L (isotonic to slightly higher)
Isotonic to slightly higher dialysate sodium (135-145 mEq/L) supports osmotic stability and helps maintain hemodynamic stability during dialysis.
Hemolysis during hemodialysis can be recognized by which characteristic change in the blood tubing?
Answer: Blood appears cherry-red or pink (translucent) rather than its normal dark red color
Hemolyzed blood releases hemoglobin into plasma, turning the blood a characteristic translucent cherry-red or pink color that is visually distinct from normal dark venous blood.