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hemoperfusion
Passage of blood through columns of adsorptive material, such as activated charcoal, to remove toxic substances from the blood. [from hemo + L. perfusio, to pass through]
Indications:
- poisoning, drug overdose
a) of particular benefit for drugs that are highly protein- bound
b) theophylline poisoning, carbamazepine poisoning
Complications:
1) thrombocytopenia (30% reduction in platelets is common)
2) leukopenia
3) hypoglycemia
4) hypocalcemia
5) hemorrhage secondary to heparinization
Mechanism of action:
1) removes drugs that are both polar & non polar
2) not limited by water solubility or molecular weight
General
emergency medicine
clinical toxicology
clinical procedure
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 26th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1995
- Daubert GP, Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis