What is the primary action of normal saline in hemodialysis?

The primary action of normal saline in hemodialysis is to prime the dialyzer. Priming the dialyzer with normal saline helps to fill the blood and dialysate compartments, removing air bubbles, and ensuring that the dialyzer is ready for effective filtration. This process is essential for the smooth operation of the dialysis machine, as it establishes the necessary fluid environment within the dialyzer prior to commencing the treatment.

While normal saline does have other functions, such as maintaining fluid balance or serving as a carrier for medications, these are secondary to its role in preparing the dialyzer for use. Providing electrolytes is also a consideration, but normal saline’s primary use in this context is specifically to ensure the dialyzer is primed correctly before initiating treatment.