Reduction of Microemboli of Air Using a New Developed Air Trap (EmbolessTM) During Haemodialysis

During hemodialysis (HD) the blood of the patient pass an extracorporeal circuit that contains a dialyzer for rinsing and a venous chamber (air trap) to prevent from air embolism through the return blood into the patient. However, air traps in clinical use have limited capacity to prevent from microemboli of air to enter the return bloodline and deposit as emboli in the body such as lungs, heart and brain. The Investigator developed the air trap Emboless that was patented. In vitro studies showed significantly better reduction of microemboli contaminations than air traps compared to that in clinical use. The present randomized clinical trial compares two different air traps used by the same patients in a cross-over design (as pairs) using the Emboless compared with the Fresenius 4008/5008 (F5008). Chronic HD patients are randomized to perform the first HD with either their standard air trap (F5008) in the venous bloodline tubing or using the Emboless bloodline and vice versa. Each patient was included to make two paired series. A safety committee evaluates if significantly worse outcome appears especially with the Emboless, to stop the study. During HD the microbubbles are counted by a GAMPT ultrasound device using two probes. One probe is set at the inlet side of the air trap and the second at the outlet side. The outlet side represents data of microbubbles in the blood that are entering into the patient. Comparative non-parametric paired analyses are performed between the air traps. Monitoring of the study is performed.