Improving adequacy of dialysis: using in-series dialyzers.

Abstract

In larger clients where standard methods of urea removal do not provide adequate dialysis, the increase in surface area of in-series dialyzers has accomplished this goal. Each step that we took imparted to W.T. that our concern was to improve his health. Our objective was to improve the URR in W.T. when his rigorous "standard" treatment did not provide adequate dialysis. An in-series set of dialyzers was designed and configured, necessary supplies were obtained, staff education was performed, and a pilot study was attempted with W.T. An improvement in URR from .52 to .64 occurred during the first month of in-series dialyzers. This resulted in an increased urea reduction of 23%. Once we recognized the usefulness of in-series dialyzers as a tool to improve URR, we applied it to several other patients with similar success rates. The benefits of in-series dialyzers include cost effectiveness (we realized a cost savings of $6 per treatment), higher URR capabilities, the ability to provide adequate dialysis to outliers, improved compliance with treatment times, and a method to maintain a healthy client.