Dialysis Basics
Dr.Ashutosh Ojha
MD,DNB(Gen Med)PDCC-Nephro (student)
GMCH..Guwahati.
Outline
Indications
Modalities
Apparatus
Access
Complications of dialysis access
Acute complications of dialysis
Indications
Pericarditis or pleuritis
Progressive uremic encephalopathy or neuropathy ( asterixis,
myoclonus, seizures)
Bleeding diathesis
Fluid overload unresponsive to diuretics
Metabolic disturbances refractory to medical therapy
(hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, hyper- calcemia , hyper-
phosphatemia)
Persistent nausea/vomiting, weight loss, or malnutrition
Toxic overdose of a dialyzable drug….Dialysable substance
IgG/>>>>IgM
Indications for RRT
Acute management of life-threatening complications of AKI:
A: Metabolic acidosis (pH less than 7.1)
E: Electrolytes -- Hyperkalemia (K >6.5 meq/L) or rapidly rising
K)
I: Ingestion -- Certain alcohol and drug intoxications
O: Refractory fluid overload
U: Uremia, ie. pericarditis, neuropathy, decline in mental status
Goals of Dialysis
Solute clearance
Diffusive transport (based on countercurrent flow of blood and dialysate)
Convective transport (solvent drag with ultrafiltration)
Fluid removal
Modalities
Peritoneal dialysis
Intermittent hemodialysis
Hemofiltration
Continuous renal replacement therapy
Decision of modality determined by catabolic rate,
hemodynamic stability, and whether primary goal is fluid or
solute removal
Principles of dialysis
Dialysis = diffusion = passive
movement of solutes across a semi-
permeable membrane down
concentration gradient
Good for small molecules
(Ultra)filtration = convection =
solute + fluid removal across semi-
permeable membrane down a
pressure gradient (solvent drag)
Better for removal of fluid and medium-
size molecules
Faber. Nursing in Critical Care 2009; 14: 4
Principles of dialysis
Hemodialysis = solute passively diffuses down concentration
gradient
Dialysate flows countercurrent to blood flow.
Urea, creatinine, K move from blood to dialysate
Ca and bicarb move from dialysate to blood.
Hemofiltration: uses hydrostatic pressure gradient to induce filtration
/ convection plasma water + solutes across membrane.
Hemodiafiltration: combination of dialysis and filtration.
•Miller's Anesthesia, 7th ed. 2009
•Foot. Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care 2005; 16:321-329
Hemodialysis Apparatus
Dialyzer (cellulose, substituted cellulose, synthetic
noncellulose membranes)
Dialysis solution (dialysate – water must remain free of Al,
Cu, chloramine, bacteria, and endotoxin)ABDEC
Tubing for transport of blood and dialysis solution
Machine to power and mechanically monitor the procedure
(includes air monitor, proportioning system, temperature
sensor, urea sensor to calculate clearance)CAPUT
Hemodialysis Access
Acute dialysis catheter (vascular catheter, i.e. Quentin
catheter)
Cuffed, tunneled dialysis catheter (Permcath)
Arteriovenous graft
Arteriovenous fistula
Arteriovenous Fistula
Preferred form of dialysis access
Typically end-to-side vein-to-artery anastamosis
Types
Radiocephalic (first choice)
Brachiocephalic (second choice)
Brachiobasilic (third choice, requires superficialization of basilic
vein, i.e. transposition)
Lower extremity fistulae are rare
Radiocephalic AVF
Brachiocephalic AVF
Arteriovenous Graft
Synthetic conduit, usually polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE,
aka Gortex), between an artery and a vein
Either straight or looped
Common sites
Straight forearm : Radial artery to cephalic vein
Looped forearm : brachial artery to cephalic vein
Straight upper arm : brachial artery to axillary vein
Looped upper arm : axillary artery to axillary vein
Arteriovenous Graft cont’d
Rare sites
Leg grafts
Looped chest grafts
Axillary-axillary (necklace)
Axillary-atrial grafts
Arteriovenous Graft
Tunneled Cuffed Catheters
Dual lumen catheters
Most commonly placed in the internal jugular vein, exiting at
the upper, anterior chest
Can also be placed in the femoral vein
Subclavian catheters should be avoided given the risk of
subclavian stenosis
Cuffed Dialysis Catheter
Dialysis Access : Time to use
Graft
Usually cannulated within weeks
Vectra or flexine grafts can safely be cannulated after ~12 hours
Fistula
Median period of 100 days before cannulation in the U.S. and U.K.
Initial cannulation should be performed with small gauge needles
and low blood flow
Needles Chart for home care Dialysis
Dialysis Access : Longevity
Native fistulas have a high rate of primary failure, but long-
term patency is superior to grafts if they mature
R-C fistulas 5- and 10-year patency are 53 and
45%, respectively
PTFE grafts 1-, 2-, and 4-year patency are 67, 50, and
43%, respectively
Complications of AVF and AVG
Thrombosis
Infection (10% for AVG, 5% for transposed AVF, 2% for non-
transposed AVF)
Seromas
Steal (6% of B-C AVF, 1% of R-C AVF)
Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms (3% of AVF, 5% of AVG)
Venous hypertension (usually 2/2 central venous stenosis)
Heart failure (Avoid AVFs in pts with severely depressed
LVEF)
Local bleeding
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters
Indications
Intermediate-duration vascular access during maturation of AVF
or AVG
Expected lifespan on dialysis of < 1 year (due to co-morbidities
or on living donor transplant list)
Medical contra-indication to permanent dialysis access (severe
heart failure)
Patients who refuse AVF or AVG after explanation of the risks of
a catheter
All other dialysis access options have been exhausted
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters :
Complications
Infection
Risk of bacteremia 2.3 per 1000 catheter days or 20 to 25%
over the average duration of use
Dysfunction
Defined as inability to sustain blood flow of >300 mL/min
By this definition, 87% of catheters malfunction in their lifetime
Central venous stenosis
Mortality (may be influenced by selection bias)
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Metastatic infections
Osteomyelitis, endocarditis, septic arthritis, suppurative
thrombophlebitis, or epidural abscess
Risk factors : prolonged duration of usage, previous
bacteremia, recent surgery, diabetes mellitus, iron overload,
immunosuppression, malnutrition
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Microbiology
Coagulase-negative staph and S. aureus together account for 40
to 80%
Significant morbidity and mortality with S. aureus, esp. MRSA
Nonstaphylococcal infections predominantly due to enterococci
and Gram negative rods (30-40%)
If HIV positive, consider polymicrobial and fungal infections
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Clinical manifestations
Fevers or chills in catheter-dependent dialysis patients
associated with positive blood cultures in 60 to 80%
Less commonly : hypotension, altered mental status, catheter
dysfunction, hypothermia, and acidosis
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Empiric Treatment
Vancomycin (load with 15-20 mg/kg and then 500-1000 mg
after each HD session) plus either gentamicin (load with 2
mg/kg and then 1 mg/kg after each HD session) or ceftazidime
(2 grams after each HD session)
Avoid prolonged use of an aminoglycoside given the risk of
ototoxicity with vestibular dysfunction
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Tailored treatment
MRSA : vancomycin, daptomycin if vancomycin allergy
MSSA : cefazolin (Ancef)
VRE : daptomycin
Gram-negative organisms : ceftazidime, levaquin
Candidemia : immediate catheter removal, Infectious disease
consultation for appropriate anti-fungal agent (ex., micafungin)
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Duration
Catheter removal and replacement, early resolution of
symptoms, blood cultures quickly negative : 2 to 3 weeks
Uncomplicated S. aureus infection : 4 weeks
Metastatic infection or persistently positive blood cultures :
minimum 6 weeks
Osteomyelitis : 6 to 8 weeks
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Catheter management
Immediate removal if severe sepsis, hypotension, endocarditis
or metastatic infection, persistent bacteremia (usually defined as
>72 hrs), tunnel site infection
Consider removal if S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, fungi, or
mycobacteria
Consider salvage if coagulase negative staphylococcus (may be a
risk factor for recurrence)
Tunnel Cuffed Catheters : Bacteremia
Catheter management
Guidewire exchange
Not well studied (small, uncontrolled studies)
Theoretically, useful for preservation of vasculature
May be indicated if coagulopathy or hemodynamic instability precludes
catheter removal and temporary catheter placement
Catheter tip should be sent for culture, and if positive, new catheter
should be relocated to a new site
Acute Complications of Dialysis
Hypotension (25-55%)
Cramps (5-20%)
Nausea and vomiting (5-15%)
Headache (5%)
Chest pain (2-5%)
Back pain (2-5%)
Itching (5%)
Fever and chills (<1%)
Acute Complications of Dialysis
Chest pain
Can be associated with hypotension and dialysis disequilibrium
syndrome
Always consider angina, hemolysis, and (rarely) air embolism
Consider pulmonary embolism if recent manipulation of
thrombus and/or occlusion of the dialysis access
Acute Complications of Dialysis
Hemolysis
Suggestive findings include port wine appearance of the blood
in the venous line, a falling hematocrit, or complaints of chest
pain, SOB, and/or back pain
Usually due to dialysis solution problems, including
overheating, hypotonicity, and contamination with
formaldehyde, bleach, chloramine, or nitrates in the water, or
copper in the dialysis tubing
Treatment includes discontinuation of dialysis without blood
return to the patient, and evaluation for hyperkalemia with
medical treatment as necessary
Acute Complications of Dialysis
Arrhythmias
Common during, and between, dialysis treatments
Controversial whether due to disturbances in plasma potassium
Treatment is similar to the non-dialysis population, except for
medication dosing adjustments
Thank you
Blood and Dialysate have to run opposite to achieve optimum
clearance …..Fluid and Solute
Learning is always unidirectional …..Institute to Individual.
