Role of Lung Ultrasound in the Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Congestion in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study
Pulmonary congestion secondary to volume overload or interstitial tissue inflammation is common in chronic hemodialysis patients. This pulmonary congestion occurs mainly during the period between dialysis sessions and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular event morbidity and mortality in this population. The evaluation of this pulmonary congestion and the estimation of the dry weight of hemodialysis patients according to conventional methods represent a real challenge for clinical nephrologists. Lung ultrasound is a new diagnostic approach validated in the assessment of pulmonary congestion. It would allow a better assessment of dry weight in chronic hemodialysis patients based on the results of preliminary studies, including our latest pilot study. However, there is little evidence comparing this novel approach to traditional approaches.
• Chronic in-center hemodialysis patients for at least three months