"Deadly Dialysis Complication: A Rare Threat in Minutes"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
Venous needle dislodgment (VND), a rare but potentially lethal complication of hemodialysis, poses a significant risk to patients undergoing dialysis treatment. If the venous needle dislodges, the blood continues to be pumped and cleaned by the machine, but it escapes from the body, leading to rapid blood loss and potential death within minutes. While a simple solution in the form of an alarm system exists in Europe to detect blood loss and automatically shut off the dialysis pump, this technology is not widely available in the United States. The lack of automatic shut-off mechanisms in dialysis machines poses a danger to patients, both in clinical settings and at home. Experts and patient advocates emphasize the need for improved patient training and the adoption of fail-safe technologies to prevent VND and enhance patient safety in dialysis care.