USE OF EVODIAL DIALIZERS FOR HEMODIALYSIS IN PATIENTS WITH HIGH RISK FOR BLEEDING - SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE

Abstract

During hemodialysis the exposure of the blood to dialysis membrane can promote clotting, and hence, usually anticoagulation is used. In patients at increased risk for bleeding a heparin-free regime is mandatory. Evodial dialyzer contains a heparin-grafted membrane in order to reduce patients' bleeding risk. In this study we present our experience with the use of Evodial dialyzer. We report on 106 dialysis sessions performed in 59 patients. Reasons for using Evodial: active bleeding, hematological conditions, complications of vascular access. Changes in the dialyzer or additional interventions were examined. Low-dose unfractionated heparin was used in 10 (9.4%) sessions, and was added in 6 more and in another 5 saline flushes. In 4 sessions, due to coagulation we had to terminate dialysis. Heparin-grafted dialyzers can be safely used in patients at high bleeding risk as a reasonable alternative when regional citrate anticoagulation is unavailable.