Hemodialysis — monitoring
Before: weight, blood pressure, temperature, access site, medications to hold (antihypertensives are often held), last potassium. After: weight to measure fluid removed, blood pressure, access site for bleeding, signs of disequilibrium syndrome — headache, nausea, confusion, seizures — from too rapid a shift. Hypotension during dialysis is the most common complication: too much fluid removed too quickly. Between sessions, watch for fluid overload, hyperkalemia and uremic symptoms.