Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Fatal bubble

10 November 2001

A simple chemical may have caused the recent spate of unexplained deaths of
patients on dialysis machines. Tests done by US dialyser manufacturer Baxter
suggest that a perfluorohydrocarbon used in one of its factories in Ronneby,
Sweden might have caused fatal air bubbles to form in the patients’ hearts. The
fluid was thought to be non-toxic and is used to test the dialysis filters for
leaks. But renal researchers working for Baxter found that an injection of just
160 microlitres of the liquid was enough to kill a rabbit. Baxter has recalled
the type of filter linked to 23 deaths…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop