engleski

Sudden deaths of Croatian hemodialysis patients in October 2001

In 2001, 2719 chronic renal failure patients were dialyzed in Croatia. Death rate in this patient group was 10.26% and did not differ from that in other countries. According to communication from the Institute of Public Health, four patients unexpectedly died in one dialysis center in just one day. The aim of this work was to determine global epidemiological situation in all centers for hemodialysis in the Republic of Croatia. The methods used were data collection through phone contacts and completed questionnaires, simulation of dialysis on a model, taking samples of flushes from dialyzers and their analysis by gas chromatography. Further, autopsy findings of deceased patients were gathered to facilitate search for the common cause of fatal events. In the period of one week 23 patients died in Croatia, of whom five during hemodialysis, and 18 within several hours after hemodialysis. Clinical picture was characterized by dyspnea, hypotension, arrest and unsuccessful resuscitation. Analysis of all possible risk elements on hemodialysis revealed that they differed as regards the choice of device for dialysis of lines, dialysate, water, personnel, and that the only common denominator in all events was dialyzer P15 or P18, manufactured by Baxter and distributed by Pliva.

Croatia ; fluorocarbons ; membranes ; sudden death

nije evidentirano