A low-level arterial drip chamber may allow what to enter the system?

A low-level arterial drip chamber is designed to ensure that the blood being drawn from the patient does so in a controlled manner, but if the level of fluid within the chamber drops too low, there is a risk of allowing air to enter the system. This can occur if there is not enough blood present in the chamber to maintain a complete seal and allow a vacuum effect. Introducing air into the bloodstream can lead to serious complications, including air embolism, which poses significant risks to patient safety.

In contrast, blood and dialysate are components that should remain strictly within their designated pathways—blood within the blood circuit and dialysate within its own separate circuit—thus maintaining the integrity of the dialysis process. Anticoagulants, used to prevent clotting in the blood circuit, are administered as part of the treatment process, but they do not enter the system through a low-level arterial drip chamber in the same manner that air might enter when the fluid levels drop.