Background & Objectives: Hemodialysis is the most common treatment used in patients with end-stage renal disease, and it is associated with unpleasant and fatal side effects. This study, therefore, was performed to determine the complications occurring in dialyzing patients of Fatemeh Zahra Teaching Hospital, Sari, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 78 hemodialysis patients who were always dialyzing in the dialysis unit of Fatemeh Zahra Teaching Hospital for at least two times a week. The data collection tool was a self-designed questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and performing t-test, ANOVA and Chi- Square tests, using SPSS version 16.
Results: The most common hemodialysis complications were muscle cramps (51.28%), pruritus (41.03%), headache (32.05%), hypotension (23.08%), back pain (29.49%), chest pain (20.51%), shortness of breath (12.82%), hypertension (10.26%), nausea and vomiting (10.25%), fever and chills (5.13%) and bleeding (3.85%).
Conclusion: Considering the obtained results, hemodialysis complications can be prevented through precise regulation of the hemodialysis system (e.g., ultrafiltration pump, the pumping velocity and selecting the appropriate filter), considering the principles of nutrition and providing training for patients.