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HAEMOFILTRATION APPARATUS

Typical Number in Hospital: 1 Cost Bands: 5 References: 4

As a variation of haemodialysis for treatment of acute kidney failure a different kind of dialysing membrane can be used to provide the transfer of large quantities of fluid (15-80 litres) from the body by ultrafiltration. At the same time transfer of small and medium-sized molecules takes place with much higher clearance rates of larger molecules than occurs with haemodialysis. The fluid loss is made up before or after the haemofiltration using a specially prepared electrolyte (Ringer's solution).

The technique is expensive to use, but appropriate in some disorders.

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