Background: Systemic anticoagulation during hemodialysis (HD) increases the risk for bleeding complications pre- or post-operatively. Based on the concept of blood-membrane interaction, we developed a heparin-albumin solution to rinse the dialysis circuit before start. The aim of this study was to investigate if this method was a valuable tool for our patients at risk for bleeding complications.
Material and methods: This retrospective, comparative, quality assessment study included 248 HD in 68 patients; Group1: 178 treatments were performed at patients for risk of bleeding using heparin-albumin-priming and Group 2: 70 acute HD were performed on patients without increased risk of bleeding using a bolus of heparin at start and a continuous infusion of heparin. In Group 1 additional heparin was given upon suspicion of progressive clotting. One L saline contained albumin (1 g/l) and heparin (5000 U/l) used for priming. Excess priming solution was removed by filling the circuit with blood at start of treatment.
Results: In Group 1, a mean total dose of 2000 U of heparin was given during the HD (18% performed HD without any heparin) and Group 2 used a mean total dose of 5500 U (p<0.001). There was no increased incidence of clotting in Group 1 versus Group 2 compared to standard HD. No bleeding complications were reported during any of the HA-priming treatments.
Conclusions: Heparin-albumin priming resulted in a reduced total dose of heparin. There was no increased clotting and no incidence of bleeding was reported in either group.