Effects of ultrafiltration, dialysis, and temperature on gas exchange during hemodiafiltration: a laboratory...

To study gas exchange in the filter during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), an air-tight heated mixing chamber with adjustable CO2 supply was constructed and connected to a CVVHDF monitor. Bicarbonate-free crystalloid (Part 1) and packed red blood cell (Part 2) solutions were circulated at 150 ml x min(-1). Gas exchange expressed as pre-postfilter difference in CO2 and O2 contents was measured at different CVVHDF settings and temperatures of circulating and dialysis solutions. Ultrafiltration was most efficacious for CO2 removal (at 1,000 ml x h(-1) ultrafiltration CO2 losses reached 13% of prefilter CO2 content). Addition of dialysis (1,000 ml x h(-1)) increased CO2 loss to 17% and at maximal parameters (filtration 3,000 ml x h(-1), dialysis 2,500 ml x h(-1)), the loss of CO2 amounted to 35% of prefilter content. Temperature changes of circulating and/or dialysis fluids had no significant impact on CO2 losses. The O2 exchange during CVVHDF was negligible. Currently used CVVHDF is only marginally effective in CO2 removal. Higher volume ultrafiltration combined with dialysis can be expected to reach clinical significance.