How long can you keep a dialyzer in recirculation while waiting for a patient to arrive at the dialysis clinic?

quote:

Originally posted by Relei7:
How long can you keep a dialyzer in recirculation while waiting for a patient to arrive at the dialysis clinic?

Our unit goes no more than 4 hours before tearing the machine down and restringing.

We also only let it recirculate for no more than 4 hours but will generally only let it go 3.

I read that the safety limit was 45 min rec by manufacturer.

What manufacturer? I looked in our Fresenius Manuals and could not find it any where.

Just curious?

quote:

Originally posted by Sherriek:
Our unit goes no more than 4 hours before tearing the machine down and restringing.

When you say restringing after 4 hrs., do you mean for the same patient or you get ready for another pt? We string and as long as the machine keeps recirculating(we turn the dialysate flow off to preserve the bicarb and acid) we would hold the machine indefinitely(tho we've never had an undo length of time go by before the pt shows). If it's the last shift we'll tear down if the pt will get less than 3 hr tx. We have a non-compliance form the pt has to sign if they run less than 3 hrs.

Gambro policy 1006 states 8 hours before you have to tear the machine down!