My textbook says human blood is cooled to 0 degree celsius before haemodialysis .I am wondering why?
To understand why human blood needs to be cooled to 0 degrees Celsius (also known as hypothermia) before hemodialysis, let's first explain what hemodialysis is.
Hemodialysis is a medical procedure used to filter and cleanse the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly. During this process, blood is drawn from the body and passed through a dialysis machine, which acts as an artificial kidney, removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood before returning it to the body.
Now, let's discuss why blood is cooled to 0 degrees Celsius before hemodialysis:
1. Preventing clotting: Cooling the blood slows down the clotting process. When blood is outside the body, it can encounter surfaces that activate the clotting cascade, potentially leading to the formation of blood clots. By reducing the temperature, the clotting process is significantly slowed down, reducing the risk of clot formation during hemodialysis.
2. Reducing metabolism: Cooling the blood helps reduce the body's metabolic demands. Lowering the temperature slows down enzymatic reactions and cellular processes, decreasing the metabolic rate. This can be beneficial during hemodialysis, as it allows the dialysis machine more time to effectively filter and cleanse the blood.
3. Protecting the red blood cells: Cooling the blood helps to preserve and protect the red blood cells (RBCs). With reduced metabolic activity, the RBCs are less likely to undergo damage or rupture during the hemodialysis process. It helps maintain the integrity and functionality of the RBCs, which are crucial for oxygen transport in the body.
4. Minimizing inflammation: Lowering the temperature of the blood can have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammatory responses can be reduced at lower temperatures, which can be beneficial during hemodialysis. It helps to minimize the systemic inflammatory response that can be triggered by the dialysis process itself.
It is important to note that cooling the blood to 0 degrees Celsius is usually not necessary for all dialysis procedures. Different dialysis centers may have different protocols and temperature adjustment settings, depending on the patient's specific needs and the dialysis machine being used.
In summary, cooling human blood to 0 degrees Celsius before hemodialysis helps prevent clotting, reduces metabolic demands, protects red blood cells, and minimizes inflammation, ultimately improving the effectiveness and safety of the procedure.