Aims: There are not enough data about the type of the membrane that should be used in acute intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) in patients with crush syndrome where intradialytic complication rate is high. The effects of dialyzers on outcome have been investigated in this study.
Methods: Patients who required IHD due to crush syndrome after a big earthquake that struck Marmara in 1999 have been studied. Hemodynamic and biochemical analyses at the time of admission were examined. The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of dialyzers (viz., hemophan, polysulfone, and combined).
Results: Forty-five patients were included in the study (mean age: 33.9 +/- 13.3 years, mean HD session per patient: 8.8 +/- 6.1). In all, 408 dialyzers were used during IHD therapy (21% hemophan). The types of dialyzers used were hemophan (8 patients), polysulfone (18 patients), and the combination of the two (19 patients). The demographic and biochemical parameters related to crush syndrome were not different statistically. All sessions were anticoagulant-free. Hypotension and coagulation of sets were the main intradialytic complications. Five (11%) patients died, but there was no correlation between mortality rates and the type of the dialyzer used. Serum albumin, blood pressure, and thrombocyte counts were found to be related to mortality.
Conclusion: No effect of the type of dialysis membrane on outcome was detected in patients with crush syndrome. Other potential factors, which may responsible for the complications and mortality, should be investigated.