Final answer:
Complications of dialysis can include infection, clotting, and air embolism. These can lead to symptoms ranging from discomfort to life-threatening conditions, requiring close monitoring. The treatment termination/returning blood step is particularly sensitive to such complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complications of Dialysis Treatment:
The process described, whereby a patient's blood is sent through a filter during dialysis to remove waste products and then the clean blood is returned to the body, can sometimes be accompanied by complications. Some of the likely complications of dialysis include infection, clotting at the site where the blood is removed or returned, and air bubbles entering the blood.
Infection is a risk due to the need for accessing the bloodstream, which can introduce bacteria. Clotting can occur when the blood flow is slowed or stopped, leading to potential blockages. Air embolism is a rare, but serious, possibility when air enters the bloodstream, which can cause a range of symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, and even death if not promptly treated.
Patients undergoing dialysis should be closely monitored for these and other complications such as low blood pressure and muscle cramps, which can also occur during the treatment termination/returning blood phase of dialysis.