BEDSIDE DIALYSIS USING PORTABLE HEMODIALYSIS APPARATUS- OUR EXPERIENCE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Objective: To share our experience of bedside hemodialysis using a portable hemodialysis machine and dialysis drum in COVID-19 patients requiring renal replacement therapy.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Lahore from Apr 2020 to Jun 2020. Methodology: Fourteen patients undergoing indoor treatment for moderate to severe COVID-19 infection in COVID isolation wards/intensive care unit received bedside hemodialysis by means of a portable hemodialysis machine and improvised “dialysis drum” from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2020 at Combined Military Hospital, Lahore.

Results: A total of seventy five hemodialysis sessions were conducted with a mean of 5.35 sessions per patient. Mean age of the patients was 59.92 years. Out of a total of fourteen patients, there were twelve males (85.7%) and two females (14.3%). None of our cases had any significant procedure related complication. Nine patients (64.3%) were discharged after making a clinical recovery including two patients who were successfully weaned off mechanical ventilation while five patients (35.7%) had an in hospital mortality.

Conclusion: The bedside delivery of dialysis by means of an improvised manually mobile hemodialysis apparatus is an effective technique which can be employed in the management of patients requiring renal replacement therapy in strict isolation settings.