The sensor in the venous chamber does not prevent passage of air bubbles during hemodialysis.

We previously showed, in vitro, that micro bubbles pass the air trap without inducing an alarm. The aim was to investigate if micro bubbles bypass the detector during hemodialysis (HD). During HD (40 patients, 47 HD sessions, 231 measurements), an ultrasound detector was fixed just after the venous air trap. Micro bubble size was measured in the range from 5 microm up to >42.5 microm. Blood flow was at a mean 346 mL/min (SD +/- 57). The mean of all micro bubbles per minute, without inducing an alarm, was at start 128 (range 0-769). Measurements revealed the presence of micro bubbles in all of the series and in 90% of the measurements. There was no difference between start and end of the same dialyses. There was a correlation between blood flow and extent of micro bubbles for the smaller sizes and the sum of all bubbles (r > or = 0.29, P < or = 0.026). Micro bubbles passed the air trap without alarming. Most bubbles were approximately 5 microm.

[1]  Ulf Forsberg,et al.  Air bubbles pass the security system of the dialysis device without alarming. , 2007, Artificial organs.

[2]  P. Davis,et al.  Resuscitation of newborn infants with 100% oxygen or air: a systematic review and meta-analysis , 2004, The Lancet.

[3]  G. Chertow,et al.  Mineral metabolism, mortality, and morbidity in maintenance hemodialysis. , 2004, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN.

[4]  A. Odén,et al.  Renal replacement therapy in Sweden , 2004, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology.

[5]  E. Ringelstein,et al.  Reduction of circulating microemboli in the subclavian vein of patients undergoing haemodialysis using pre-filled instead of dry dialysers. , 2003, Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation.

[6]  F. A. Zakaria Effect of oxygen derived free radicals and glycine on sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase in the basolateral membrane of the kidney in ischemia-reperfusion. , 2002, Saudi medical journal.

[7]  D. Droste,et al.  Detection of microemboli in the subclavian vein of patients undergoing haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration using pulsed Doppler ultrasound. , 2002, Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association.

[8]  Léandre Pourcelot,et al.  Identification of microemboli during haemodialysis using Doppler ultrasound. , 2000, Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association.

[9]  J. Rubin,et al.  Ultrasound detection of microembolic signals in hemodialysis accesses. , 2000, American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.

[10]  M. Svensson,et al.  Activation of FXII during haemodialysis. , 1996, Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation.

[11]  K. Esbensen,et al.  Granulocyte Elastase, β-Thromboglobulin, and C3D during Acetate or Bicarbonate Hemodialysis with Hemophan® Compared to a Cellulose Acetate Membrane , 1992, The International journal of artificial organs.

[12]  R. Fairshter,et al.  Lung pathology in chronic hemodialysis patients. , 1982, The International journal of artificial organs.

[13]  J. Conger,et al.  Pulmonary calcification in chronic dialysis patients. Clinical and pathologic studies. , 1975, Annals of internal medicine.

[14]  B. Semb,et al.  Gas bubble detection in fluid lines by means of pulsed Doppler ultrasound. , 1985, Scandinavian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.