Comparison between lung ultrasonography and current methods for volume assessment in Asian chronic hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Volume assessment in end-stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis (HD) remains inadequate by existing methods: clinical examination, bioimpedance spectroscopy, measurement of inferior vena cava diameter by ultrasound (IVCD), and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP). This study aims to compare the performance of lung ultrasound against existing methods for volume assessment in a HD cohort. METHODS: Two nephrologists independently performed 28-point lung ultrasound immediately before and after midweek HD in 50 patients. Lung congestion was classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories based on lung ultrasound findings. Clinical examination for crepitations and oedema, change in hydration status (∆HS) measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy, NT-pro BNP, IVCD during inspiration (IVCDimin), expiration (IVCDimax), and inferior vena cava collapsibility index were also assessed before and after midweek HD. FINDINGS: In all, 61% of patients with normohydration status by bioimpedance spectroscopy had moderate or severe lung congestion on lung ultrasound. There were significant correlations between predialysis lung ultrasound, and NT-pro BNP (r = 0.432, P = 0.004), ∆HS (r = 0.447, P < 0.001), and IVCD parameters (P < 0.05). Some correlations weakened postdialysis (∆HS [r = 0.322, P = 0.01] and IVCDimax [r = 0.307, P = 0.03]), whereas NT-pro BNP and ∆HS paradoxically increased in 28% and 30% of the cohort, respectively. On receiver operator curve analysis, most methods of volume assessment had limited discriminatory power to detect mild lung congestion. DISCUSSION: Lung ultrasound demonstrates some comparability with existing volume assessment methods in Asian dialysis patients. However, it appears more effective at detecting subclinical pulmonary congestion, and tracking fluid changes real-time compared to bioimpedance spectroscopy and NT-pro BNP.

Going to war on COVID-19: Mobilizing an academic nephrology group practice.

AIM: The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented operational challenges to nephrology divisions in every country as they cope with COVID-19-related kidney disease in addition to regular patient care. Although general approaches have been proposed, there is a lack of practical guidance for nephrology division response in a hospital facing a surge of cases. Here, we describe the specific measures that our division has taken in the hope that our experience in Singapore may be helpful to others. METHODS: Descriptive narrative. RESULTS: A compilation of operational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic taken by a nephrology division at a Singapore university hospital. CONCLUSION: Nephrology operational readiness for COVID-19 requires a clinical mindset shift from usual standard of care to a crisis exigency model that targets best outcomes for available resources. Rapid multi-disciplinary efforts that evolve flexibly with the local dynamics of the outbreak are required.