When terminating treatment, which needle should be pulled first?

When terminating treatment, the arterial needle should be pulled first due to the physiological principles involved in hemodialysis. The arterial access delivers blood from the patient to the dialysis machine, and removing the arterial needle first helps to prevent any potential air from entering the blood access site, which can occur if the venous return is interrupted before the arterial flow is stopped.

Additionally, pulling the arterial needle first ensures that blood is properly returned to the patient from the dialysis machine through the venous access, allowing for a controlled disconnection from the dialysis circuit. This procedure is crucial in minimizing risks such as dislodging clots or causing complications at the access site.

Understanding the proper order of needle removal is essential for ensuring patient safety and maintaining the integrity of the vascular access. This procedure is consistent with standard practices in hemodialysis protocols, where the arterial needle is typically prioritized during the disconnection process.