Effect of intradialytic change in blood pressure and ultrafiltration volume on the variation in access flow measured by ultrasound dilution

BACKGROUND: Prospective access flow measurement is the preferred method for vascular access surveillance in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We studied the effect of intradialytic change in blood pressure and ultrafiltration volume on the variation in access flow measured by ultrasound dilution. METHODS: Access flow was measured 30 minutes, 120 minutes, and 240 minutes after the start of HD by ultrasound dilution in 30 patients during 89 HD sessions and evaluated for variation. RESULTS: The mean age of the 30 patients was 62±11 years: 19 were male. The accesses comprised 16 fistulae and 14 grafts. The mean access flow over all sessions decreased by 6.1% over time (1265±568 mL/min after 30 minutes, 1260±599 mL/min after 120 minutes, and 1197±576 mL/min after 240 minutes, P<0.01 by repeated measures ANOVA). In addition, a≥5% decrease in mean arterial pressure during HD significantly reduced access flow (P=0.014). However, no other variable (ultrafiltration volume, sex, age, presence of diabetes, type or location of access, body surface area, hemoglobin, serum albumin level) interacted significantly with the effect of time on access flow. Furthermore, mean arterial pressure did not correlate with ultrafiltration volume. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the variation in access flow during HD is relatively small. Decreased blood pressure is a risk factor for variation in access flow measured by ultrasound dilution. In most patients whose blood pressures are stable during HD, the access flow can be measured at any time during the HD treatment.