DAILY HEMOFILTRATION IN SEVERE HEART-FAILURE

We treated nine patients having severe heart failure (IV NYHA classifi cation) with anuria resistant to diuretics who were on daily hemofiltr ation, and estimated their survival for a year. The total volume of li quids removed was estimated bf means of an echographic determination o f the caval collapsability index. Dry weight was obtained from 6 to 22 days. The fluid removed varied from 10 to 35 liters. Five patients at the end of the therapy took up diuresis again and recovered their sen sitivity to diuretics. Three of these patients went beyond the 12 mont hs of survival, and two patients died earlier. Four patients did not s how the resumption of diuresis and they continued with daily ht hemofi ltration. Three survived over 20 weeks: one died after 15 weeks. We co nclude that daily hemofiltration is useful in patients with severe hea rt decompensation in that it increases their survival rate.