What Is Delivered Flow in Hemodialysis and Why Is It Important?

During hemodialysis, blood is pumped through the dialyzer at a blood flow rate prescribed by the doctor.

One of the advantages of measuring delivered flow is the data provided about true extracorporeal flow, rather than just information about how the blood pump flow is set. This is important because it can help support dialysis optimization.

We’ll dig into why delivered flow in hemodialysis matters and how transit time flow measurement has several important advantages for both the patient and the care team.

Advantages of Delivered Flow Measurements

Delivered flow can differ from the dialysis pump setting. It is important to compare the pump setting to the actual circuit flow so that you can monitor your dialysis patient’s treatment on the spot.

Transonic’s HD03 Hemodialysis Monitor measurements optimize dialysis catheter delivery by:

• Helping to establish a maximum dialysis pump setting before recirculation occurs
• Using known values for flow and recirculation to adjust the length of dialysis
• Identifying flow restrictions
• Finding the best catheter configuration between the catheter blood lines (regular or reversed)

These measurements allow the treatment to be adapted to suit the individual needs of the patient.

Additionally, delivered flow in hemodialysis can be monitored with transit time flow measurement (TTFM) technology, which has several significant benefits.

Measurements For Hemodialysis

Transit time flow measurement is a non-invasive technique. When a small saline bolus is administered, sound waves reflected across the sensors detect changes in fluid density, which are then calculated as precise measures of recirculation and blood flow.

The value of this cannot be overstated. Nephrologists and nephrology nurses must have critical data about delivered flow in order to optimize treatment for the patient and detect access dysfunction.

Transonic HD03 Hemodialysis Monitor

All of this technology is combined in a compact device that is both portable and user-friendly. Arm your clinic and your clinicians with all the data that the Transonic HD03 can provide. “To Measure is to Know,” and we know that patient health is your top priority.

That’s why the HD03 gives your care team an immediate snapshot of how the dialysis treatment is going and alerts them to any issues that may arise. Measurements take only a few minutes per patient – time well worth taking to prevent serious complications.

Results are displayed on the stand-alone device’s easy-to-read, intuitive touch screen.  

Watch the video to learn more.