Management of air embolism during haemodialysis part 3

Preventing air from entering the patient and causing an air embolism:

• Ensure all connections(blood circuit, dialysis/fistula tubing to dialysis circuit, clamps, caps) are closed or capped
• Ensure dialysis catheter is not cracked and that clamps function correctly to seal the ends of the lumens
• Ensure venous dialysis circuit line is securely placed in venous air detector and line clamp function correctly
• Monitor any infusions carefully and where possible add these via venous air chamber. Packed red cell transfusions should however always be infused via the arterial port
• Where possible have patient lying/sat above the level of the blood pump