Reducing Waste in Hemodialysis: The Case for Acid Concentrate
Author Information
Author(s): Ghimire Anukul, Tennankore Karthik K., Vitale George
Primary Institution: University of Calgary
Hypothesis
Can reusing unused acid concentrate in hemodialysis treatments reduce waste and costs?
Conclusion
The study highlights significant waste in hemodialysis acid concentrate usage, suggesting that reusing this resource could save money and reduce environmental impact.
Supporting Evidence
- Each dialysis session can produce up to 8 kg of plastic waste.
- The annual carbon footprint per dialysis patient is up to 7 times greater than the general population.
- Approximately 260,520 L of acid concentrate is discarded annually in the Alberta Kidney Care South program.
- Over 156,000 plastic containers are discarded every year due to acid concentrate waste.
- Central delivery systems for acid concentrate have shown to reduce waste and save costs in other regions.
Takeaway
This study shows that a lot of the liquid used in kidney treatments gets thrown away, and we can save money and help the planet by using it better.
Methodology
The study involved estimating waste and costs associated with acid concentrate in hemodialysis treatments and exploring potential solutions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from reliance on institutional policies and manufacturer instructions that may not be evidence-based.
Limitations
The study relies on estimates and lacks formal studies evaluating the environmental impact of discarded acid concentrate.
Participant Demographics
Approximately 1000 in-center hemodialysis patients in Alberta.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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