DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

The increasing number of patients with end-stage renal failure treated with hemodialysis poses a therapeutical challenge to emergency care p hysicians. Medical emergencies are often related to the underlying met abolic and cardiovascular abnormalities and may occur during or betwee n dialysis sessions. The present article highlights the frequent probl ems like dialysis hypotension, pulmonary congestion due to hypervolemi a, or hyperkalemia, and describes more specific, although infrequent c omplications of hemodialysis, i.e. air embolism, hemolysis, and dysequ ilibrium syndrome. Physicians nor daily confronted with the care of pa tients on renal replacement therapy are given here an overview of diag nostic and therapeutic clues to the management of acutely ill hemodial ysis patients.