What is it about?
Hemodialysis is one of the most resources consuming medical intervention. Due to its concept, the proper amount of dialysis fluid passed through dialyser is crucial to obtain the expected outcomes. The most frequent source of dialysis fluid is production from liquid concentrate (delivered in containers or plastic bags) in dialysis machine. Alternatively, concentrates for dialysis may be produced in dialysis center by dilution in mixing devices dry or semi-dry pre-mixed compounds connected with system of central dialysis fluid delivery system. Dialysate consumption depends on various factors like type of hemodialysis machine, session duration, prescribed flow etc. Modern hemodialysis machines are equipped with the modules which automatically reduce flow rate of dialysis fluid to the patient blood flow and minimize dialysate consumption during preparation and after reinfusion. Smart using of available options offered by manufacturers allows to save additional portion of acid concentrate and water. The weight of concentrates to be deliver to the dialysis center is the major factor influencing on the cost (financial and environmental) of transportation from the manufacturer to the final consumer. The crisis on the energy carriers market and extremely high fuel prices made the transportation cost the one of the significant cost of the treatment, which must be bear by supplier and finally influence on the price of goods.
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Why is it important?
The careful choice of the concentrate delivery system can improve cost-effectiveness of dialysis. Such solutions implemented in dialysis unit helps to make significant savings as well as decrease the impact on natural environment by carbon footprint reduction.
Perspectives
Hemodialysis is constly and affect the envoronment. It consume a hude amount of water, produce a lot of waste and increase carbon footprint. Green dialysis concept is proper water management. We have to rethink some common rules – e.g. amount of water used, waste productin, investment in the modern system of concentrate production in the center, reduction of number of concentrate compositions, if possible to think for switch for home methods. Every small step towards reducing the impact of our activities on the environment multiplied by the number of medical procedures performed can be a big step for the whole of humanity.
Jolanta Malyszko
Medical University of Warsaw
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Green dialysis – let us talk about dialysis fluid., Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, April 2023, Karger Publishers,
DOI: 10.1159/000530439.
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