Background: Fluid balance is important in hemodialysis patients. ‘‘Dry'' weight is usually assessed clinically, and also biochemical markers is considered reliable. The use of chest ultrasound to assessment of volume status received growing attention in clinical research in hemodialysis patients. Ultrasonographic lung comets (counting B-lines artifact) evaluate extravascular lung water, while ultrasonography of inferior vena cava (IVC) estimates central venous pressure. So, ultrasound is considered as a useful tool to evaluate the volume status of hemodialysis patients.
Objective: To assess the role of chest ultrasound and inferior vena cava diameter in assessment of volume status before and after a dialysis session in hemodialysis patients.
Patients and Methods: This was across-sectional study carried out at Hemodialysis Unit, Al-Hussein University Hospital, over a period of one year from September 2019 to September 2020, and conducted on 50 hemodialysis patients. Demographic data and clinical information were recorded. Laboratory data including CBC, urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphate and albumin were evaluated. Radiological examination included ultrasound lung B-lines score and diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC) before and after dialysis session.
Results: The mean lung B-lines score before dialysis was high and decreased significantly after dialysis. There was a significant improvement of pulmonary congestion manifested by reduction in number of B lines after hemodialysis. There was a significant positive correlation between the mean lung B-lines score and IVC diameter both before and after dialysis. There was no significant relation between clinical data of studied patients and degree of U/S finding after hemodialysis as regards age, sex, smoking, and associated disorders.
Conclusions: Chest US is a well‐validated simple and low‐cost technique, and can be easily applied by nephrologists at the bedside to assess of volume status before and after a dialysis session and detect pulmonary congestion at a pre-clinical stage that is associated with a high death risk, and to justify dry weight in hemodialysis patients.