HCO3 increment in arterial line can reveal significant vascular access recirculation in high-flux hemodialysis: a preliminary report.

We report a new and simple way that can reveal the presence of vascular access recirculation (VAR) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Acid-base and blood gas parameters (pH, pO(2), pCO(2), and HCO(3)) were measured in blood samples drawn from an arterial fistula needle before the initiation of HD and from arterial and venous lines simultaneously 5 min later, in 31 patients (group A). Vascular access recirculation was measured using the glucose infusion test (GIT) immediately after the withdrawal of the 5-min samples.

pO2 and pCO2 increment in post-dialyzer blood: the role of dialysate.

Blood returning from a dialyzer during hemodialysis has a higher pO2 and pCO2 content than blood entering the dialyzer, and this has been attributed to the dialysate. The present study investigates this phenomenon. Acid-base and blood-gas parameters (pH, pO2, pCO2 and HCO3) were measured in three groups of stable chronic hemodialysis patients (A, B, and C) undergoing high-flux hemodialysis.

Heparin solution locked in acute hemodialysis catheters: impact on activated partial thromboplastin time.

Fifteen patients on hemodialysis, wearing acute dual lumen hemodialysis catheters (DLHCs) locked with a 4 ml heparin solution (HS) containing 7,500 IU of conventional heparin (3,750 IU/lumen), were studied. After the preexisting HS was aspirated and discarded, 10 ml of blood was withdrawn from each lumen in a syringe. Then, two 3 ml blood samples (A and B) were withdrawn in a row from the venous lumen; a third blood sample (C) was withdrawn from a peripheral vein, and the 20 ml of blood in the syringe was returned to the patient.