What complication is associated with rapid removal of fluid during dialysis?

Rapid removal of fluid during dialysis can lead to hypotension, which is characterized by a significant drop in blood pressure. This occurs primarily due to the reduction in blood volume as excess fluid is removed from the patient’s body. When fluid is pulled off too quickly, the body may not have enough time to compensate for the rapid decrease in plasma volume, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Hypotension is a common challenge in hemodialysis settings and requires careful management to ensure patient safety and comfort during the treatment.

The other options involve different physiological processes. For example, hyperkalemia is an increased level of potassium in the blood and is generally a concern when there is inadequate removal of potassium during dialysis rather than fluid. Hypophosphatemia, a condition of low phosphate levels, typically relates to dietary intake or metabolic issues, not fluid removal rates. Cardiac arrhythmias can occur from various imbalances in electrolytes but are not directly linked to the rapid removal of fluid as a primary cause, making hypotension the primary concern in this context.