Formation of Blood Foam in the Air Trap During Hemodialysis Due to Insufficient Automatic Priming of Dialyzers.

We were encouraged to investigate the reasons for large amounts of foam observed in bloodlines during hemodialysis (HD). Foam was visible in the venous air trap within the Artis Gambro dialysis device. Estimates of the extent of foam were graded (0-no foam, 10-extensive foam) by two persons that were blind to the type of dialyzer used. Thirty-seven patients were involved in the dialysis procedures. Consecutive dialyses were graded using dialyzers from Fresenius Medical Care (CorDiax dialyzers that were used for high flux HD-FX80 and FX100, and for hemodiafiltration-FX1000). The extracorporeal circuit was primed automatically by dialysate using Gambro Artis software 8.15 006 (Gambro, Dasco, Medolla Italy, Baxter, Chicago, IL, USA). The priming volume recommended by the manufacturer was 1100 mL, whereas our center uses 1500 mL. Extensive amounts of blood foam were visual in the air traps. Although the manufacturer recommended extension of priming volume up to 3000 mL, this did not eliminate the foam. Microbubble measurement during HD revealed the air to derive from the dialyzers. When changing to PF210H dialyzers (Baxter) and using a priming volume of 1500 mL, the foam was significantly less (P < 0.01). The extent of foam correlated with the size of the FX-dialyzer surface (P = 0.002). The auto-priming program was updated to version 8.21 by the manufacturer and the extent of foam in the air trap using FX dialyzers was now reduced and there was no longer a difference between FX and PF dialyzers, although less foam was still visible in the venous air trap during several dialyses. In conclusion, this study urgently calls attention to blood foam development in the venous air trap when using Artis devices and priming software 8.15 in combination with Fresenius dialyzers. Updated auto-priming software (version 8.21) of Artis should be requested to reduce the extent of foam for the Fresenius dialyzers. Other interactions may also be present. We recommend further studies to clarify these problems. Meanwhile caution is warranted for the combined use of dialysis devices and dialyzers with incompatible automatic priming.