A patient's arterial pressure has increased from -110 mm Hg to -210 mm Hg. What could be a potential cause for this change in arterial pressure that dialysis personnel should assess for?

The change in arterial pressure from -110 mm Hg to -210 mm Hg may indicate a significant issue with the vascular access during dialysis. When the arterial needle becomes clotted, it impairs blood flow and can lead to a negative pressure reading. In this case, the reading of -210 mm Hg suggests that the system is experiencing excessive negative pressure due to insufficient blood flow, likely caused by a clot in the arterial needle.

Assessing for clotted needles is crucial because it can not only cause inaccurate pressure readings but can also obstruct blood flow, which is vital for effective dialysis. If the arterial flow is compromised by a clot, it can severely affect the efficiency of the dialysis treatment and could potentially harm the patient. This is a common scenario that dialysis personnel must evaluate when faced with unusual pressure changes.