Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Mulhearn.
A dialysis unit's introduction of automated recycling of dialysers is described. The responses of the staff and the patients are outlined, along with the pertinent ethical issues. Suggestions regarding the educational processes necessary with any innovation in long-term medical care are discussed.
Clearance of urea, creatinine, phosphate and B12 in dialyzers reused up to 30 times were unchanged from the initial values. Residual formalin values were within acceptable levels and in several thousand dialyses no untoward reactions of any sort attributable to reuse were encountered. Neutropenia was constantly present with dialyzers prepared by automated reuse.