PRACTICAL ALGORITHM FOR BLOOD PRESSURE (BP) MONITORING AND CONTROL DURING HEMODIALYSIS.

Hypotension is a frequent complication of hemodialytic therapy. A fall in blood pressure (BP) and/or clinical symptoms of dizziness, nausea, and cramps often requires some form of therapeutic intervention by the dialysis staff. The authors have used a microprocessor based oscillometric blood pressure measuring device for the automatic monitoring of BP and pulse rate, interfacing with a hemodialysis machine programmed to alter transmembrane pressure, ultrafiltration pressure and dialysate sodium concentration. This computerized system may reduce the incidence of intradialytic hypotension, improve patient care, and provide more efficient use of staff time.