Mar 11 2010
Hemodialysis: Why are Monitors Needed and What do they Do?
Monitors are devices that measure several dialysis functions during treatment. Their purpose is to provide safe dialysis treatment and to respond with a light and a noise to alert the staff when there is something wrong.
When a monitor indicates an alarm, dialysis may be automatically stopped. In most cases, the problem is not immediately dangerous to you and can be quickly corrected by the staff. The combination of the monitors and the supervision of the staff helps to make dialysis treatment comfortable and safe.
The venous pressure monitor and the arterial pressure monitor measure the pressure of the blood as it flows through the dialyzer. If there is a break, kind or any obstruction in the blood lines or in the dialyzer, the pressure changes and the monitors send out an alarm to alert both you and the staff. The temperature monitor indicates an alarm if the dialysate solution is either too hot or too cold. Because the blood normally cools when it leaves the body through the blood lines, it must be rewarmed to the normal body temperature before it is returned to the body. This is accomplished by heating the dialysate solution, which, in turn, rewarms the blood. The negative pressure monitor shows the amount of suction or negative pressure used to remove the excess fluid from the body. An alarm sounds if this pressure changes. Another very important device on the artificial kidney machine is the blood leak monitor, which sets off an alarm if any blood leaks into the dialysate solution through a tear in the dialyzer membrane. The conductivity monitor indicates the concentration of substances in the dialysate solution. The air detector detects any air or foam that might pass through the system. This detector not only indicates an alarm, but also has an automatic device that clamps the blood line returning to the body to prevent air from being pushed into the vein. It may be frightening when an alarm sounds, but rest assured that the monitors are designed to protect you and to make treatment as safe and comfortable as possible.