Dialysis Complication Can Potentially Kill Patients

Venous Needle Dislodgement (VND) is an ongoing risk posed to dialysis patients, particularly in the U.S. VND occurs when a venous needle dislodges during the course of dialysis, creating an immediate danger to patients. Patients who receive dialysis on a regular basis in the U.S. are at elevated risk. The stark reality is that technology to mitigate this severe risk has existed for over a decade, however, U.S.-based dialysis providers have refused to incorporate these important safety mechanisms. Economic decisions are unnecessarily endangering dialysis patients. Congress has begun to take action with the Home Dialysis Risk Prevention Act where public policy can mirror existing technology.

The Nurse Association Task Force has discovered that patients who undergo hemodialysis at home or during sleep may face an elevated risk. In 2023, ECRI, a non-profit organization dedicated to healthcare safety, identified needle dislodgment as a prominent health hazard, expressing specific worry about patients receiving treatment at home. Both of these organizations have raised concerns about the lack of reliable dislodgment detection in dialysis machines, highlighting the fact that blood pumps cannot be relied upon to automatically shut off in such situations.

To learn more about how dialysis complications can potentially kill patience, read the full article here.