St. Mary Is First PA Hospital With New Dialysis System

LANGHORNE, PA — St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne has become the first hospital in Pennsylvania with a new dialysis system designed to treat critically ill patients.

It's called continuous renal replacement therapy. The system is a 24-hour method of hemodialysis treatment that removes waste and toxins from the body for patients experiencing acute kidney injuries or chronic kidney failure.

The machines are ideal for very sick patients who may be too unstable for traditional dialysis treatments, the hospital said. They provide uninterrupted dialysis treatment, which helps hospital staff balance fluid and electrolyte levels for unstable patients.

The machines at St. Mary, the Baxter PrisMax System, received FDA approval in July 2019.

"At St. Mary Medical Center, we are proud to offer innovative treatment options," said Dr. Lawrence Brilliant, president of the hospital. "Our investment in the new CRRT system underscores our commitment to providing our patients with access to advanced technology and the highest quality care."

Peter A. Lorchak, the critical care nurse manager at St. Mary, said the new system "ensures our patients receive the most effective dialysis treatment possible."