Sorbent regenerative hemodialysis as a potential cause of acute hypercapnia

Abstract

These studies emphasize the potential for actue acid-base changes with sorbent regenerative hemodialysis. Although stable patients tolerated all forms of sorbent regenerative hemodialysis, venous or effluent blood PCO2 was extremely high and pH reduced early in bicarbonate dialysis with hollow-fiber dialyzers and late in acetate dialysis with hollow-fiber dialyzers. Coil dialyzers minimized the increase in dialysate and venous blood carbon dioxide tension. These findings in stable patients emphasize the potential for severe respiratory acidosis in patients with fixed mechanical ventilation or pulmonary impairment during dialysis with sorbent regenerative hemodialysis using both bicarbonate dialysate and acetate dialysate with hollow-fiber dialyzers.