Can Chronic Volume Overload Be Recognized and Prevented in Hemodialysis Patients?

Ultrafiltration rate as a nursing-sensitive quality indicator in haemodialysis

Nursing quality indicators are widely used to demonstrate nurses' contributions to health care. Some studies in nephrology settings have addressed nursing quality, but indicators reflecting the nursing process quality in haemodialysis are lacking. This paper argues for considering ultrafiltration rate as a nursing-sensitive quality indicator in haemodialysis. Strategies and qualifications for considering ultrafiltration rate as a nursing quality indicator are established and discussed. It is argued that the indicator is associated with nursing practice, linked to both morbidity and mortality, and is within the scope of the nurse's responsibility. It is also argued that the indicator could be influenced by other factors than nursing care. Thus, further studies are needed to investigate the association between ultrafiltration rate and patient safety. The introduction of the ultrafiltration rate as a duty specific quality indicator is a coveted measure of nursing care quality in haemodialysis settings.

Volume excess in chronic haemodialysis patients--effects of treatment frequency and treatment spacing

BACKGROUND

The main objective of this study was to theoretically quantify the fluctuations of fluid volume excess for different modes of intermittent ultrafiltration schedules and to compare the prediction for the typical and asymmetric thrice-weekly schedule to clinical, physiological and biophysical markers of volume expansion in a group of stable haemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Overall volume excess (V(OVE)) was described as the sum of a time-independent (V(0)) and a time-dependent component (V). An exact relationship was developed to relate V to variable treatment frequency, treatment spacing and net volume accumulation rate. In a single-centre haemodialysis population, body mass profiling was combined with volume state evaluation by bioimpedance analysis, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) levels, clinical signs, a volume questionnaire and blood pressure levels.

RESULTS

In 23 patients following the typical thrice-weekly schedule, the time-averaged volume excess (V) during the whole week (1.1 ± 0.5 L) was significantly larger than that during the midweek interval (0.9 ± 0.4 L) (P < 0.002) by a factor comparable to that of 1.21 obtained from the theoretical analysis. V(OVE) was 1.3 ± 1.7 L and significantly related to pre- (P < 0.001) and post-dialysis levels of NT-pro BNP (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Asymmetric treatment spacing such as with the typical thrice-weekly treatment schedule leads to a significant increase in time-averaged volume excess. The theoretical analysis allows for comparison of time-averaged volume excess in treatments varying with regard to treatment frequency and regularity and could be helpful to prescribe post-treatment volume (target weight) for such variable treatment modes.