¹Guy's Hospital, Department of Nephrology, London, UK

Correspondence: M Ostermann, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, Department of Nephrology, St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. E-mail: Marlies.Ostermann@gstt.nhs.uk

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients have significant cardiac-related mortality. Sudden cardiac arrests in the dialysis unit are infrequent events but carry a poor prognosis. The predominant rhythm is ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Although the exact etiologies are not clear, several studies have confirmed an increased incidence on the first day after the weekend interval. Use of cardioprotective drugs and possibly an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may improve the prognosis of survivors after a cardiac arrest. More research is needed in this field.