| [ Summary ] |
Intermittent hemodialysis consisting of treatment three times per week is the minimum level of dialysis therapy, which should be provided for patients with little innate renal activity. There is a higher risk of death due to cardiac complications or overall cardiovascular conditions when patients are not treated for two or more days at a time. Therefore, dialysis schedules of three times per week should be reconsidered. Daily nocturnal hemodialysis provides the highest treatment rates and best clinical results. It also provides the best levels of safety and economy. Dialysis scheduled on alternate days or four times weekly provides a timetable, which is feasible in terms of ease for patients. Fluid management can also be more closely managed with these schedules. This type of treatment schedule also minimizes the number of patients seen with concomitant heart failure. Many complications may be avoided by preventing dialysis patients from skipping treatment for two days at a time. |