I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis => Topic started by: jedimaster on January 04, 2007, 09:36:00 PM

Title: Foam attack!!!
Post by: jedimaster on January 04, 2007, 09:36:00 PM

It has happened to me three times. Foam starts forming on the drip chamber (hemodialysis)...then the air detect alarm goes wild...I try to get rid of the foam because the pump stops...so I know I only have couple of minutes to win against the foam....if not, I have to stop the process, loose the blood that is on the machine and not finish the treatment.
So far...FOAM 3, JEDIMASTER 0.
Has this happened to you? >:(

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: tamara on January 05, 2007, 03:02:06 AM

It has happened to me but not by ME.

It was while on was in hospital gettting my parathyroids out, and had to have treatment, without heparin, because of the risk of haemorraging after the op.

Treatment lasted just over 1 1/2 hours, then I had to lose all my blood, cause the machine clotted.

Hope you get to be the winner in this battle!  :)

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: del on January 05, 2007, 05:38:23 PM

What pump speed are you on.  When we trained for nocturnal we were taught how to deal with it - same as you trying to get rid of the foam..  Not much chance of winning against it.  The nurse told us that very litttle chance of it happening with the slow nighttime pump speed.  I don't know but does it have something to do with heparin dose as well??  You never know.  Do you have a contact person for home hemo.  It might help to contact them. :beer1;

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: Zach on January 05, 2007, 08:05:30 PM

Here's one way that almost always works.

Run saline through the lines and filter until clear ... the foam will dissipate.  About 200-300cc should work.

The foam is caused by air mixing with blood in the dializer.  Usually that happens when someone fails to purge the air out of the lines and/or the filter when priming.  When you introduce saline into the mixture, the foam becomes diluted and just breaks down.

Yes, you'll receive some saline which you'll have to account for by re-adjusting the UF, but it's better that losing all that blood.        ;)

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: jedimaster on January 05, 2007, 08:24:20 PM

Thanks!...I'll try that next time. I do have my home hemo nurse who I can call...but time is gold when the pump has stopped....I believe that I have 2 minutes to get rid of the foam and restart the pump or my blood is good for sausage....
I will try the saline trick...so far I have no weight restrictions, so i don't care how much saline gets in my blood....

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: goofynina on January 06, 2007, 06:51:00 PM

Jedi?  did you try Zach's advice?  I am just curious if it worked or not  :popcorn; :popcorn; :popcorn;

Title: Re: Foam attack!!!
Post by: jedimaster on January 06, 2007, 07:40:08 PM

Not yet...yesterday I had a good run. i will try, though and keep informed. Meanwhile you can watch Ugly Betty or something  ;D