What are indications of a clotting dialyzer?

The indications of a clotting dialyzer primarily include rising transmembrane pressure (TMP), dark blood in the dialyzer, and air detector alarms.

Rising TMP suggests that there is increased resistance to blood flow through the dialyzer, which is often a result of clot formation within the dialyzer or on its membranes. As clots develop, they impede the flow of blood, causing the pressure to increase significantly. This rise in pressure can lead to alarms sounding, particularly those from air detectors, which may trigger if air enters or is suspected to be present in the bloodline due to the altered flow dynamics caused by clots.

The presence of dark blood in the dialyzer is another critical indicator. This can occur when clotted material alters the oxygenation state of the blood, causing it to appear darker as it moves through the dialyzer.

In contrast, the other scenarios described do not indicate clotting. For instance, rising venous pressure accompanied by bright red blood (the first choice) does not typically correlate with clots but can indicate a different type of issue. Low arterial pressure coupled with clear dialysate (the third choice) often signifies effective filtration without clots. Lastly, stable pressure