Environmental and Iatrogenic Obstacles to Long Life on Hemodialysis

Abstract

Hemodialysis is remarkably safe. Whether it is performed by professionals in a hospital or clinic or by the patient at home, the risk of death due to technical failure or human error in a single dialysis is only one in 76,138.¹ Over a 10-year course of maintenance hemodialysis, the risk of accidental dialysis-related death is 2 per cent. This low level of risk is attributable in large part to technical advances that monitor the extracorporeal circuit, and interrupt blood flow in the event of air or blood leaks, high or low dialysate temperature, or incorrect mixing of the dialysate. Formerly . . .