I would liek to inquire , if it is safe to run atreatmetn with the venous chamber monitor remained clamped during the run. A line catheter was used and it snot registering venous resistance, so it triggers an alarm on and off, but when the venous chamber monitor was clamped, it was okay. Any untoward consequences?

I assume you are talking about clamping the line to the venous transducer. The venous transducer is measuring resistence from the patient back up to the transducer. It will alert you to a hematoma forming in the patient, clotting in the venous chamber or line. NO, it is not okay to run the treatment with the line clamped.

Where is the moderator on this site ?

It is unsafe to operate without a good dry open transducer line.

#1 - as mentioned above, helps to indicate hematoma formation
#2 - aids in letting you know about flow problems:
--if the venous pressure drops, you have a flow problem BEFORE the transducer
--if the venous pressure RISES, you have a flow problem AFTER the transducer
#3 - the transducer is also used to measure the blood compartment pressure of the dialyzer. If the machine gets an inaccurate reading of the blood compartment, it will then give an inaccurate TMP reading. This has multiple ramifications
#4 - being permissive with our attitudes about an important safety feature like the venous transducer says we are more worried about our own time and focused more on ourselves than we are on professional competent care. If I were a patient, and saw anyone do something like that, I would immediately have to ask myself 'what other corners do they cut?' 'Why don't the staff value important safety features to protect me?' 'I don't know how safe I am in a place that is allowing safety measures to be compromised'
#5 - if anything were to happen to the patient, you are legally liable for not performing the standard of care you have consented to perform. Criminalization of medical errors is a disturbing new trend.

I concur..
Clamping the venous line is detrimental, but also disastrous in many ways.

#1, when there is clotting of the venous chamber, as it clots, the alarm will detect the clot and interpret it as "air" and high venous pressure, so therefore the patient will lose his circuit. Why would someone do that, isnt it easier to have periodic flushes and administer more heparin prn?

I know some facilities don't have an arterial pressure transducer, and yes, they must clamp the arterial line..but this too is not advisable, especially for fistulas and grafts...

This is against DOQI guidelines as well as risky practice..

Does any one have the Standards Of Care for Dialysis Patients available?

Let us all be advocates of patient care..

Best regards,
Carla