Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

What is a possible consequence of insufficient blood flow during dialysis?

1. Hypotension

2. Hypervolemia

3. Hyperkalemia

4. Severe Anemia

The correct answer is: Hypotension

Insufficient blood flow during dialysis can lead to hypotension, which is a significant drop in blood pressure. This occurs because the machine is unable to effectively remove fluid and waste products from the bloodstream if adequate blood flow is not maintained. When blood flow is compromised, the patient may not tolerate the dialysis treatment well, leading to symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and fainting due to reduced perfusion to vital organs. Maintaining proper blood flow is essential for ensuring the efficiency of the dialysis process and the overall stability of the patient during the treatment. While the other options may seem related to various issues in dialysis patients, they are typically associated with different underlying problems. For instance, hypervolemia generally results from excessive fluid intake or insufficient fluid removal, while hyperkalemia is often associated with elevated potassium levels in the blood, which can occur due to kidney dysfunction but is not directly caused by insufficient blood flow during dialysis. Severe anemia relates to low red blood cell counts, which may develop from chronic kidney disease or related treatments but does not result directly from issues with blood flow in dialysis. Thus, hypotension is a direct and immediate consequence of insufficient blood flow during a dialysis session.