Abstract
In general hemodialysis sessions, blood flow rate (QB) has been controlled at around 200 mL/min because of several technical problems including apprehension about an increase in venous return and cardiac overload in the early days. We estimated cardiac output by ultrasound cardiography with changing QB during dialysis sessions. In 33 patients, QB change (400 mL/min, 200 mL/min, 400 mL/min) did not alter single stroke volume, heart rate, and their product (an indicator of cardiac output). Diameter of the inferior vena cava also showed no significant difference by QB increase. From this investigation, high QB may not consistently increase cardiac overload and cause heart failure in patients receiving hemodialysis without valve diseases.
