HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN CRO HOSPITALS TREATED WITHOUT PROBLEMS

ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Hina) - There is no danger for kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis in Croatian hospitals, Assistant Health Minister Ante Barbir said on Saturday. Following yesterday's instruction by the Health Ministry to all hemodialysis centres to put out of use dialysis machines manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Baxter and dialysis needles produced by Nissho Nipro Corp., all hospitals have introduced all-night duty and according to the reports they forwarded to the Ministry this morning, the condition of patients who have undergone dialysis with Baxter machines is good, Barbir said. Possible defects in Baxter machines can cause high or low blood pressure and acidosis. Since most hospitals in Croatia do not have spare dialysis machines produced by other companies, they are still using Baxter machines closely monitoring the patients' condition and the dialysis procedure. Baxter dialysis machines have been used in Croatia for five years and there have been no problems until now, however, the dialysers of this company caused the death of 23 kidney patients in October this year. (hina) rml