In the treatment of patients with respiratory failure (RF), CO2 removal is one of the most important points as well as O2 supply. In the present study, the direct CO2 removal using commercially available heodialysers was examined in vivo and in vitro. Rate of CO2 transfer of A-V extracorporeal acetate hemodialysis was about 50ml/min in blood flow of 200ml/min, and more than 90% of it was excreated in the form of HCO3. The clinical results of CO2 removal in 4 patients with RF were satisfactory.
