[Experience with the regeneration and repeated use of dialyzers (1977-1987)]

During ten years 59616 haemodialyses were performed with 18139 capillary dialysers on 226 patients being in the final stage of chronic renal insufficiency. With the semi-automatic technique applied blood can be eliminated from the dialyser in 15-20 minutes. Formalin used for desinfection is washed out of the apparatus such a way, that formalin content of the last washing solution ranges between 0-0.1 microgram/ml. Anti-N antibody indicating the presence of formalin could be detected in the serum of 2 patients out of the 120 cases tested. The same dialyser is used repeatedly on one patient, 3.29-times on the average. The regenerated dialyser eliminates compounds of small-and middle molecular weight with the same efficiency up to the 4th repeated use. Ratio of pyrogenic reactions is low, 0.08%. Neither infection or sepsis associated with the regeneration occurred. Rehabilitation degree as well as the survival time of patient corresponded with the average European standard. Because of the "first use syndrome" (allergic symptoms, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, headache, cramps etc.) with 5 patients haemodialysis could be performed only with regenerated dialysers dialyses. From the considerable sums saved by regeneration process 7 satellite dialysing units were established and equipped.