Multiple use of dialysers

Abstract
In‐vivo small‐molecule clearances, ultrafiltration rate, and priming volumes were measured in a modern hollow‐fibre dialyser after three, six, and 12 uses in a study group of nine regular dialysis patients. A detailed costing of reuse was carried out in order to determine the most cost‐beneficial number of uses. Dialyser performance was not affected by any measurable criteria up to 12 uses. A 50% reduction in dialyser cost can be achieved by a policy of three uses, and a 62.5% reduction with a six‐use policy. It is recommended that six uses of a dialyser represents the most cost‐beneficial decision. A survey of reuse in Australian dialysis units showed that 42% of these are using dialysers, and that there were large regional differences in reuse policy.

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