Blood dialysis question

[rgp]

I'm an American married to an Australian.

My wife died in Liverpool Hospital in NSW on April 19th after a two day illness which led to emergency surgery. 4 hours afer surgery, she was placed on dialysis because of blood poisoning, and her severe deterioration seemed to me to occur immediately when they switched to a tired nurse to operate the blood dialysis equipment. I do believe that a number of the hospital staff were not competent and when they switched the nurses, all the red lights started blinking on the monitor and audible warnings began.

I would like to know if these machines can be hooked up backwards and pump filthy blood into the system, or if they should be fairly foolproof?

Thank you,

Richard.

[greg10]

I am sorry for you loss.  There are several Aussies on this forum and I am sure they can relate their experiences a little better, but from I have read, Australia is more advance in the treatment of ESRD (renal diseases) than the US and therefore your wife should had been cared for competently.  Was she sickened suddenly or was this a slow deterioration and what was her cause of death?

As to the blood lines being "hooked up backwards", rest assured that it was unlikely to had happened, and even if it did in the case of a dialysis using a Hickman line, it would not had made much of a difference.  In fact, you are allowed to switch the venous and arterial lines for better flow with a catheter (Hickman line for example), it may make the dialysis a little less efficient, but no harm would have come about.  Usually more damage is done by taking fluid off too rapidly, air in the lines (air embolism) and long term damage from too high blood flows and blood clots and stenosis.  Blood infections (sepsis) can also be common for patients under long term dialysis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickman_line

[rgp]

Cause of death officially was a flareup of diverticulitis which led to a perforation in the bowel and the bladder and eventual blood poisoning. However, they did not begin treatment for blood poisoning until about 4 hours AFTER surgery. The coroner's office said to check also symptoms of Crohn's disease. Her condition apparently was one that is rarely fatal.

She appeared perfectly healthy until after midnight on Saturday night April 17, at maybe 1 am on the 18th she became ill with apparent gastro type symptoms. Rapid deterioration started about 24 hours later and she died early in the morning of the 19th.

My wife exercised two hours a day and she may have been a little overweight but she was in fantastic physical condition. Everyone who knew her was shocked at what happened, especially me.

There was air in the lines as far as I could tell. Blood withdrawn from her neck right in front of me turned black and bubbly in the syringe. The syringe appeared to have a clear liquid in it. The nurse saw it, said "Oh shit this is not good" then immediately emptied the syringe back into my wife's neck, complete with the bubbles and said I have to get out of there.

I was told they would need 4 or 5 hours to work on her. About two hours later I called and was told "We were just about to call you in a little while, your wife is going to die in a few minutes, get back in here now." ICU receptionist unlocked the doors for me then the person who "was going to call" told me I had to get out again and wait to be called in. About 15 or 20 minutes later they called me back in and my wife appeared to be already dead.

Richard

[willowtreewren]

I am so very sorry, Richard. This must be an awful shock and I know that you are hurting.

Please accept my condolences.

Aleta

[Rerun]

Richard, I am so sorry for your loss.  Sounds like something went horribly wrong.  The doctors stick together, so I doubt you will ever know what happened.  Her bowel must have split pouring crap (literally) into her bloodstream.  How horrible. 

Please keep us posted on what you find out.  My prayers are with you and your family at this time.   

Rerun, Moderator   

[rgp]

Ok I kept her at the coroner for 2 weeks to make sure they did a thorough investigation.

They copied and signed the hospital report and didn't even check with previous doctors or anything on her medical record.

Case closed as far as they're concerned and it is too late to argue the findings.

I guess life does get worse.

[Bruno]

Richard, I'm most sorry for your loss...I may be able to help on two points (I dialyse in Sydney)...air in the line coming from the body is not a problem, it's air in the line going back that causes the problem...the blood colour coming out sounds ominous...it sounds to me as though it was not the dialysis but the late treatment.

[phyl1215]

So very sorry for your loss.

[Bajanne]

So sorry for your loss.   

[KrazeeBrod]

I am so sorry for your loss, and hope that you will someday have some closure on what exactly caused your wife to die.