A 58-year-old man on ICU is receiving CVVHDF. The CRRT machine alarms with 'Access pressure too negative' (-250 mmHg). The circuit is not clotted. Wha...

Question

A 58-year-old man on ICU is receiving CVVHDF. The CRRT machine alarms with 'Access pressure too negative' (-250 mmHg). The circuit is not clotted. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Kinking or malposition of the vascular access catheter (drainage lumen) - excessively negative access pressure indicates the machine is struggling to draw blood from the patient, suggesting catheter obstruction, kink, malposition, or patient position compressing the catheter

Answer

The dialysate bag is empty

Answer

The return pressure is too high

Answer

Air in the circuit

Answer

The effluent bag is full

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): CRRT Troubleshooting

A 58-year-old man on ICU is receiving CVVHDF. The CRRT machine alarms with 'Access pressure too negative' (-250 mmHg). The circuit is not clotted. What is the most likely cause?