If blood recirculation lasts longer than 15 minutes, what is the likely consequence?

If blood recirculation lasts longer than 15 minutes, what is the likely consequence?

• A. Increased oxygen delivery
• B. No significant effect
• C. Loss of oxygen and cannot be returned to the patient
• D. Faster dialysis

Answer: (C)

Long blood recirculation during hemodialysis means blood that has already passed through the patient and been processed by the dialyzer is diverted back into the dialysis circuit rather than continuing through the body’s circulation. When this recirculation lasts more than about 15 minutes, a portion of the oxygenated blood is effectively trapped in the circuit and not being delivered to the body's tissues. As a result, tissue oxygen delivery drops and the patient experiences reduced oxygen availability; the oxygen carried by that blood isn’t reaching the systemic circulation in a timely way, so it’s as if the oxygen supply to the body is being lost through the circuit. This is not something that would increase oxygen delivery, have no effect, or speed up dialysis.

Long blood recirculation during hemodialysis means blood that has already passed through the patient and been processed by the dialyzer is diverted back into the dialysis circuit rather than continuing through the body’s circulation. When this recirculation lasts more than about 15 minutes, a portion of the oxygenated blood is effectively trapped in the circuit and not being delivered to the body's tissues. As a result, tissue oxygen delivery drops and the patient experiences reduced oxygen availability; the oxygen carried by that blood isn’t reaching the systemic circulation in a timely way, so it’s as if the oxygen supply to the body is being lost through the circuit. This is not something that would increase oxygen delivery, have no effect, or speed up dialysis.