skip to main content

CRRT Circuit Pressure Alarms — FRCA Final MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateIntensive Care MedicineCRRT Circuit Pressure AlarmsFRCA Final

A 50-year-old man (ASA III) in ICU is commenced on renal replacement therapy via a vascath in the right femoral vein. The blood flow rate is set at 200 mL/min but the machine alarms repeatedly with high venous return pressure. What is the most likely cause?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Catheter malposition with tip against the vessel wall

High venous return pressure alarms on a CRRT machine most commonly indicate kinking or malposition of the return (venous) lumen of the vascath, often with the tip abutting the vessel wall. Other causes include: catheter clot, fibrin sleeve, inadequate catheter length, or kinking at the insertion site. Management: reposition the patient, check the catheter for kinks, flush the lumens, and consider swapping the arterial and venous ports. If problems persist, the catheter may need repositioning or replacement under fluoroscopy.

Reference: ICS – 2023 – CRRT guidelines; RCOA – 2023 – ICM vascular access