title: Acute intradialytic complications in end stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemodialysis is the preferred method of treatment for Nepalese patients with end stage renal disease. Despite the technological advances and better understanding of physiology associated with hemodialysis, a number of complications are known to be associated with hemodialysis. This study was undertaken to study the frequency of acute intradialytic complications in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at Nephrology unit of a tertiary care hospital from 15 June, 2007 to 15 December, 2007. A total of 28 patients were included in the study. Patients with acute renal failure and acute on chronic renal failure were excluded from the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total sessions of hemodialysis during the period were 1455. Hypotensive episode were 66 (4.5%) and was the commonest complication and followed by hypertensive episodes were 58 (3.8%). Other problems encountered were transfusion reactions were 23 episodes (1.5%), rigors not related to transfusions were 13 episodes (0.8%), nausea/vomiting were 20 episodes (1.4%), muscle cramps were 12 episodes (0.8%), hypoglycemia were 6 episodes 5(0.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of intradialytic complications is low and many of them are not life threatening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khakurel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hada
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*