ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hypotension during hemodialysis is frequent in patients with cardiovascular disease who have a limited physiological compensatory response. Recent advances in technology allow non-invasive monitoring of cardiac output and derived hemodynamic parameters. This prospective study evaluated episodes of intradialytic hypotension using clinical data and continuous non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring by impedance cardiography. METHODS: Forty-eight chronic hemodialysis patients, with prevalence for intradialytic hypotensive episodes, underwent evaluation with non-invasive impedance cardiography (Physioflow) before, during and after a regular dialysis session. RESULTS: During continuous non-invasive cardiac monitoring, a fall of systolic arterial blood pressure of 20% or more at least once during hemodialysis was detected in 18 patients (37.5%)--thereafter identified as the "Unstable" group. In 30 patients--thereafter called the "Stable" group, the blood pressure did not change significantly. During hypotension, a decrease in cardiac output was found in 11 of the 18 unstable patients, and a significant fall in peripheral resistance in the remaining 7. End-diastolic filling ratio was significantly lower in the unstable group. The most significant predictors associated with intradialytic hypotension were the presence of ischemic heart disease (P = 0.05), and medication with beta blockers (P = 0.037) and calcium channel blockers (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic changes in dialysis patients with hypotensive episodes included decreased cardiac output or decreased peripheral resistance. A lower end-diastolic filling ratio may be regarded as a marker for reduced preload in these patients. Non-invasive impedance cardiography may be used to evaluate risk factors for hypotension in dialysis patients.