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
Which of the following dialysate abnormalities is most likely to cause acute hemolysis in dialysis patients?
Answer: Hypo-osmolar dialysate (low sodium or diluted dialysate)
Hypo-osmolar dialysate causes osmotic lysis of red blood cells as water moves into the cells, resulting in acute hemolysis which can be fatal.
Pyrogenic reactions during hemodialysis are characterized by:
Answer: Fever, chills, and rigors occurring 30-90 minutes into treatment, with no positive blood culture required
Pyrogenic reactions caused by endotoxin exposure present with fever, chills, and rigors typically 30-90 minutes into dialysis and do not require bacteremia to occur.
In the event of a power failure during hemodialysis, the most critical immediate action is:
Answer: Manually return blood to the patient using the hand crank or gravity return protocol
Power failure stops the blood pump, risking circuit clotting; blood must be returned immediately using manual hand crank or gravity protocols before clotting occurs.
A patient becomes unresponsive with a pulse during dialysis. After calling for help, the next priority is:
Answer: Stop ultrafiltration, reduce blood flow, position flat, assess airway and initiate emergency response
An unresponsive patient requires immediate airway assessment, stopping ultrafiltration, positioning supine, and activating the emergency response system.
Which vital sign measurement is MOST important to obtain before initiating each hemodialysis treatment?
Answer: Pre-treatment weight, blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and temperature
A complete set of pre-treatment vitals (weight, BP, pulse, respirations, temperature) establishes the baseline needed to calculate ultrafiltration goals and detect changes during treatment.
Itching (pruritus) in hemodialysis patients most commonly results from:
Answer: Accumulation of uremic toxins, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and inadequate dialysis
Uremic pruritus results from accumulation of uremic toxins, elevated PTH from secondary hyperparathyroidism, and inadequate removal of middle molecules during dialysis.