Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Flashcards

Which type of vascular access has the highest long-term patency rate for hemodialysis?

Answer: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF)

AVFs have the highest long-term patency and lowest infection risk, making them the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis.

A patient's pre-dialysis BUN is 80 mg/dL and post-dialysis BUN is 20 mg/dL. What is the URR?

Answer: 75%

URR = (pre-BUN − post-BUN) / pre-BUN × 100 = (80 − 20) / 80 × 100 = 75%.

Ultrafiltration in hemodialysis refers to the removal of:

Answer: Excess fluid by convection

Ultrafiltration removes excess fluid from the blood via convective transport driven by transmembrane pressure.

Which electrolyte imbalance is most immediately life-threatening during dialysis if not corrected?

Answer: Hyperkalemia

Severe hyperkalemia can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias and is a primary indication for emergent dialysis.

What is the purpose of the dialysate bicarbonate concentration during hemodialysis?

Answer: To correct metabolic acidosis

Bicarbonate in dialysate diffuses into the blood to buffer acids and correct the metabolic acidosis common in ESRD patients.

When priming a hemodialysis circuit, the primary goal is to:

Answer: Remove air and prepare the circuit with saline

Priming flushes air from the blood lines and dialyzer, replacing it with saline to prevent air embolism.

A dialysis patient reports muscle cramps during treatment. The most appropriate initial intervention is:

Answer: Administer IV normal saline or hypertonic saline bolus

Muscle cramps during dialysis are often caused by rapid fluid removal; a saline bolus helps restore intravascular volume and relieve cramps.