Intradialysis complications of Haemodialysis: Experience from two kidney centres in Aba, South-East, Nigeria.

Abstract

Despite advances in haemodialysis (HD) machine technology and improvement in dialysis water purification and quality of dialyzer membranes, complications still occur during HD. There is a paucity of published literature on intradialysis complications in Aba, Southeast Nigeria. This study, therefore, set out to bridge this gap in knowledge. This was a 5-year observational study in which patients that had HD sessions in Living Word Ministry Hospital (LWMH) and Abia State
University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba were consecutively recruited. This study lasted from January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020. Relevant data comprising patient's demographics and the complications suffered during the HD sessions were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 software. A total of 188 patients who had 880 HD sessions participated in the study in which intradialysis complications occurred in 18.6% of the sessions. More males than females participated and had more complications while the predominant complications noted were hypotension followed by rigor and vomiting. It is recommended that efforts should be put in place to achieve early detection and treatment of intradialysis complications of HD without terminating the dialysis procedure.