For many years, the KDOQI guidelines have stressed the importance of surveilling dialysis patients' accesses for reducing certain risk factors, but multiple methods and technologies exist, with the most common devices in outpatient hemodialysis facilities being built by us (Transonic) and Fresenius. Naturally then, we are frequently asked the question, does the Transonic HD03 compete with the Fresenius devices? The answer is no, not directly, at least not in hemodialysis. While a few functions do overlap, they work best in tandem, and in fact the Transonic device provides valuable assistance, for example in central venous catheter use, when that dialysis facility treatment is performed with a Fresenius machine.   

Hemodialysis Surveillance

The Fresenius 6008 CAREsystem is a hemodialysis treatment platform that provides and controls the dialysis treatment with Online Clearance Monitoring® Blood Volume Monitoring® Blood Temperature Monitor®, Venous Access Monitor, and AutoFlow / EcoFlow. Together, these support dialysis adequacy for patient's receiving hemodialysis. 

The Transonic HD03 monitor offers three measurements for use in dialysis units, depending on vascular access type, which—importantly—provide a stand-alone comparison of dialysis function. For example, in catheters, the Delivered Flow can differ from the pump setting due to the catheter’s inability to achieve the set blood flow rate. This can result from the catheter design, fibrin sheath buildup, or catheter placement . In AVF (arteriovenous fistula) or AVG’s (arteriovenous graft) the Delivered Flow may differ from the pump setting when, for example, and AV fistula has a low Access Flow and therefore can’t deliver the proper flow volume to your hemodialysis patients, negatively effecting clinical outcomes in dialysis centers.  

Furthermore, the HD03 device offers recirculation measurements. Recirculation measurements provide the actual percentage of recirculation that is occurring at the access, warning clinicians if recirculation is present. In a catheter, this can alert the clinician that the patient is not receiving their proper dialysis prescription.

Additionally, in AV graft, or AV fistula, recirculation is a late indication of access dysfunction and occurs when blood flow rate and access flow volume are similar.

Access Flow measurement is as it’s named: real-time volume flow within in the access. Access flow can provide early warning of many potential access problems, like stenosis, allowing intervention before the problem becomes emergent. It can also forewarn of potential high-flow problems like high-output cardiac failure.

Functioning in tandem, the two devices provide a comprehensive picture: the Fresenius system ensures effective dialysis delivery, while the Transonic HD03 validates actual blood flow, detects recirculation, and tracks vascular access health for your surveillance program.