Management of air embolism during haemodialysis part 4

Recognising air is detected in the dialysis machine circuit:

Visible air is detected in the dialysis circuit en-route to the patient. Venous air chamber alarm recognises air in the circuit


Management of identifying air in the dialysis machine circuit:

• Stop the blood pump
• Disconnect the arterial and venous lines from the patient and recirculate the blood lines
• Flush the patient access with 0.9% sodium chloride for injection
• Circulate the blood circuit until all evidence of air has been removed, by colecting it in the venous air chamber
• Where there is no further evidence of air in the circuit, reconnect the patient and re-commence dialysis