UF Profiling & Sodium Modelling

currahee1973 · Mar 4, 2008

I have been in dialysis now for 7 months and I still have questions regarding the profiling and modeling. I do see that it is so individualized and you really have to try different approaches over several TX's. I have been jotting down notes on your comments. My BIGGEST hang up is giving pt's NS. I know it is a "have to" many times, but when the reason they are there is take fluid off, I just have trouble giving it back to them! I really enjoy reading these and seeing that I am not alone at there!! Thanks for the knowledge you are all sharing with me.

bluefabian · Mar 7, 2008

Wow! 7-8 kilos?

My cut off limit for extraction is 3.5 kg. Above that in special cases when: they are overloaded, it's their last dialysis day and sometimes when I am kind enough.

I don't really do UF/Sodium profilling that much. But I have been using SU (Sequential Ultrafiltration) for overloaded pts. Done on the first hour, extraction goes from 1kg - 2kg max (though the most I did was 1.4). At this time, only fluid extraction takes place - not dialysis. The rest of the three hours (4 H here) are the combination of two. Managed to avoid cramps, low BP even if I extract more than 4 kg. But not my most preferred treatment mode also - you are deprieving the pt one hour of waste clearance. If I can afford to go for 5 hours, I might do that.

UF profiling alternates between the rate of fluid extraction and how it allows capillary filling in between the lower UF rates. Some has gradually decline while others goes on an up/down pattern. Personally, I have not seen one patient that sees any benefit in this, so much that I disregard this method at all.

Again, the best way to avoid all the hassles is prevention. Fluid restriction is very important. Adhering to pt's wishes for more fluid extraction will only foster bad habits and creates complications in the long run.

nu2dialysis · Mar 8, 2008

I totally agree with you bluefabian re fluid restriction. Unfortunately, the clinic that I am working for right now have real spoiled patients. And worst, my co workers let them do whatever it is they want. Some of them even run out to get the patients food and drinks (when it's not supposed to be allowed during tx!) I try to educate them as much as I can and it never fails that the response I get is "I've been doing this for 5 or so years and no one's ever said anything to me." It's now my 3rd month working for this clinic and sad to say I am getting discouraged and really thinking twice about continuing my employment with the said company. I thought that maybe I can make a difference when I first started but like I said it is pretty discouraging!

Lacie, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2008

Most likely depends on your state and nurse practice act also as where I am it's a physician based order and treated no differently then the standard hemo orders or medication order. The only thing we determine related to profiling as nurses is to turn it off due to high b/p's and it's part of our routine standing orders to do so. It's part of the dialysis order in my state and not decided by the RN's as to how and if to use. Some facility medical directors may not object to the RN adjusting but it's not actually within our realm of practice based on the NPA for many states. It may not seem like a big deal but until you have had to give a deposition in a legal situation it can change your mind real quick.

bluefabian · Mar 8, 2008

I guess it all depends on where you work. I am based in a non profit community centre that runs independently without doctors. Our MO comes a few times in a month for visits and will see the need for any standing order based on the condition. Based on the observation that we see in a patient, we will seek advise from doctors as what to do. But really, it's in the guidelines and protocol as well. If it's not there, and I am not authorized to do it - I won't. Simple and clear. Not really about nurses deciding if they want to do it - it's about doing that based on needs, and with consultation with more experienced peers and our doctor as well.

nu2dialysis,

You are doing a great job. Just need to understand that chronic patients are hell, damn hard to educate - with their habits and pessimism. I had one patient who had undergone a minor stroke the other day and was left with left side hemiplegia. Known him very well of being very bad with fluid restriction, always asking for 3.5-4 kg extraction. I had my time of telling him to control and even refusing his request for more. Many, many times. The last time he had dialysis before the stroke, I gave him 3.5 kg and even with that he can't finish it because of hypotension. It was during the two days off that he got it, either he was really enjoying himself too much or other factors that aggravate the HPT. Now he came in whelled in, no longer able to walk and needs assistance in feeding. I asked myself this "Am I too lenient or are they being stubborn?". The complications will surely show, just a matter of when. And oh yeah, this patient was on HD for 5-7 years.

Oh yeah, I don't really like patients eating too much during tx also. The blood reroute that goes for digestion can lead to hypotension - seen this many times already. Plus, it can also mask the fluid loss that occur - pt may be thinking that little extraction occur and demand more next time. Then the cycle goes.

kidneyhelper · Mar 11, 2008

european regulation only allows to not more than 1L /hour. We have a patient who's a non compliant with his fluid restriction and often comes with 8-9l, what we do is we ask him to come back for certain day for ultrafiltration.Some pts are still on denial of their dse. eventhough they have this for ages. I think treat your patient individually ,you can ask your RN for dry wieght assessment for this patient and check his/her diet,obvious sign overload(edema) or maybe your pt gained weight.I work in a mother unit where we deal with chronic and acute,,its good to know and treat pt individually.Our oldest patient is 83 and been dialysing for almost 32 years.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Mar 11, 2008

Oh yeah, I don't really like patients eating too much during tx also. The blood reroute that goes for digestion can lead to hypotension - seen this many times already. Plus, it can also mask the fluid loss that occur - pt may be thinking that little extraction occur and demand more next time. Then the cycle goes.

Oh, this just happenes to be one of my pet peeves!

In my clinic it was absolutley verboten to eat while on the machine or in the tx. room, period! That was ONE thing I at least agreed with upper management on.

We encouraged our pts. to eat BEFORE they came to the unit, or to bring a lunch or snack with them for when they left. All our patients were informed at teh time they signed their admission paperwork that this was a unit policy strictly adhered to.

Not only can it lead to hypotension as described by the poster above, but just think of the cross contamination !!! With so much exposure to bloodborne pathogens, who in their right mind would truly want to EAT in that environment?

They might as well be eating in the bathroom stalls!!! :bugeyes:

No way.

nu2dialysis · Mar 13, 2008

So true Jnette! If only I had the support of management on this one

happybunny1970 · Mar 22, 2008

I work for a Fresenius Acute unit, and we have a fair amount of lattitude (but of course, our docs come in to see each and every patient on each and every dialysis treatment).

The docs write for a certain goal, but we are free to challenge that goal if we can give a valid reason (lungs are wet, increased edema, or up or down based on blood pressures for instance). Our max we can take off (actual UF, not including prime and rinseback or boluses) is 6 liters -- anything more than that requires a doctor's order.

We frequently use sodium modeling with the docs that are friendly to that concept -- we have one group that orders it routinely, and one group that is split (you just have to get to know them individually). We profile most patients with a goal over 2L. Again, this is up to the nurse -- some like it, some don't. The doctors have all blessed the practice and tend to back us up as long as we are getting good results and not causing the patient harm -- even when we aren't able to meet the original goal.

One thing I would like to point out: We have noticed that on our Fresenius 2008K machines, when we use the profiling (profile 4) it ALWAYS pulls off more fluid than what it says on the screen -- by AT LEAST 1/2 L. Some of the nurses have a problem with this, but I myself like it because knowing that it is actually taking off a bit more means that I can be generous in my rinseback and ensure the patient gets as many RBCs as possible back, and I needent worry about having to give a bolus every now and then that I didn't anticipate at the beginning of the treatment.

ANNA is a supporter of the profiling -- they had an article in the journal last year.

Hope this helps.

mmurphy · Apr 26, 2008

Your role as a dialysis nurse is not to be a Nazi Guard. Try to understand sitting in a chair for 4 hours without food or drink. Try to understand that this treatment time is like "a job" for the patients Let alone the time traveling to and from the treatment center. do you go for 4- 6 hours without food or drink on a regular basis. Your role is not to "control" the patients.

bluefabian · Apr 26, 2008

Even if we enforce this rules who actually follows?

In my place, patients eat all the time and we make no fuss. That four hours and such. But then again, there are those who respond worse to the treatment after such heavy meal. Seen this on a variety of patients and this is why I have been telling them to either take snacks or small meals during the treatment or eat prior to coming in.