Pulmonary venous flow in the evaluation of the haemodynamic status in dialysed patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of analysis of pulmonary veno us flow in the evaluation of the haemodynamic status of patients with chron ic renal failure with normal left ventricular function, treated by haemodia lysis. Pulmonary venous flow was recorded immediately before and after haemodialys is in 27 patients with chronic renal failure and a mean age of 44 years. Three groups of patients were defined according to the change in mitral E/A ratio : Group I (E/A< 1 before and after dialysis), Group II (E/A> 1 befor e and < 1 after dialysis) and Group III (E/A> 1 before and after dialysis). There was a significant difference between these subgroups before dialysis with respect to age, S, D, VTI S, Total VTI, VTI S / Total (p< 0.05). Howe ver, because the values overlapped, only a VTI S / Total ratio greater than 59% differentiated patients in Group II from those in group III (p< 0.05). After dialysis, the change in S/D and VTI S / Total ratios increased in Gr oups I and II and decreased in Group III. The authors concluded that 63% of patients without LV dysfunction on haemod ialysis have abnormalities of relaxation which are latent in 47% of cases d ue to increased filling pressures diagnosed by a VTI S / Total ratio> 59% o r simply because the patients are over SO year old.