Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

What immediate action should be taken if a patient shows signs of an air embolism during dialysis?

1. Turn the patient to the left side

2. Increase the blood flow rate

3. Administer oxygen

4. Begin CPR

The correct answer is: Turn the patient to the left side

When a patient shows signs of an air embolism during dialysis, turning the patient to the left side is crucial because this positioning helps prevent the air embolism from traveling further into the circulatory system. The left lateral position can promote the air bubble to migrate to the right atrium, where it is less likely to interfere with blood flow to vital organs. This maneuver takes advantage of the body's natural anatomy to mitigate the effects of the air embolism, allowing for better management of the situation. Administering oxygen, while helpful in many clinical emergencies, does not directly address the specific issue of the air embolism's location or its movement within the circulatory system. Increasing the blood flow rate would not be advisable, as it could exacerbate the problem by potentially forcing the air bubble further into the bloodstream. Initiating CPR is appropriate if the patient becomes unresponsive or shows no signs of circulation, but it is not the immediate response to an air embolism unless there are imminent signs of cardiac arrest. Thus, turning the patient to the left side is the most effective first step in managing an air embolism during dialysis.