What issue can lead to significantly negative arterial pressure during dialysis?

Significantly negative arterial pressure during dialysis can occur when there is a clotted arterial needle. This situation arises because the clotted needle creates resistance in the blood flow from the patient to the dialysis machine. When the arterial needle becomes obstructed due to clotting, it hinders the ability of the blood to flow freely, resulting in a drop in arterial pressure. The dialysis machine, in an attempt to maintain adequate blood flow, may create a higher negative pressure, leading to the significantly negative readings observed.

In contrast, other factors such as a severely clotted dialyzer can also affect the efficiency of dialysis, but they primarily impact the overall filtration process rather than causing immediate negative pressure at the arterial site. A blood transfusion typically wouldn't lead to negative arterial pressure; rather, it might be used to manage anemia in dialysis patients. Inadequate dialysis time may result in insufficient clearance of toxins but is not directly linked to negative arterial pressure.