Detection and Scoring of Extracorporeal Circuit Clotting During Hemodialysis

Floris Vanommeslaeghe1, Wim Van Biesen1, Karlien François2

  • 1Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.

Seminars in Nephrology
|January 24, 2024
PubMed

Maintaining patency of the extracorporeal hemodialysis (HD) circuit is a prerequisite to perform HD. Unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparins are the most used anticoagulants in maintenance HD, but their administration comes with a major trade-off of bleeding complications. This narrative review article discusses technical factors impacting on HD circuit patency, such as tubings, dialyzer membranes, priming practices, and treatment settings. Strategies for monitoring extracorporeal circuit clotting during and after treatment are also reviewed, as these are essential tools for optimizing anticoagulation.

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