What is charcoal hemoperfusion primarily used to treat?

Charcoal hemoperfusion is primarily used to treat drug overdose situations. This method involves using activated charcoal to adsorb toxins from the bloodstream, effectively eliminating drugs or poisons that have been ingested in excessive amounts. The use of activated charcoal in hemoperfusion is especially beneficial for substances that are highly protein-bound or poorly eliminated by dialysis alone.

Patients suffering from drug overdoses often present with serious symptoms, and timely intervention can be critical. By utilizing charcoal hemoperfusion, healthcare providers can reduce the concentration of the drug in the system, alleviate symptoms, and potentially prevent more severe complications or death.

Other conditions mentioned, such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and infectious diseases, are not typically treated with charcoal hemoperfusion. Heart failure management focuses more on fluid overload and heart function rather than toxin removal. Chronic kidney disease may require dialysis for waste removal, but it does not involve charcoal hemoperfusion. Finally, the treatment of infectious diseases typically relies on antibiotics or antivirals rather than toxin adsorption techniques.