What should a caregiver do if bright cherry soda colored blood is noticed in the dialyzer?

In the context of dialysis, noticing bright cherry soda colored blood in the dialyzer can be indicative of hemolysis, which is the breakdown of red blood cells. This condition can result from various factors, including issues with the dialyzer or the blood treatment process itself. When such a color is observed, the immediate and safest course of action is to stop the blood pump and refrain from returning the blood to the patient.

Stopping the blood pump prevents further circulation of potentially damaged blood, which could pose significant risks to the patient, including anemia or thrombosis. By not returning the blood, the caregiver safeguards the patient from possible complications arising from the circulating hemolyzed blood.

While notifying the physician is vital and changing the dialyzer is often needed, the immediate priority requires stopping the treatment to ensure patient safety. Monitoring and other actions can follow after ensuring that the primary risk is managed by halting the blood flow and preventing further harm.