Rationale for the use of blood volume and temperature control devices during hemodialysis

Despite substantial progress in blood purification techniques over the last three decades, treatment-related hypotensive episodes remain one of the major problems in hemodialysis therapy. There are two main reasons for hypotension occurring during dialysis treatments. First, hypovolemia is frequently induced by rapid fluid removal from the blood compartment which is in excess of refilling of fluids from the interstitial space. Second, many patients fail to support blood pressure by adequate vasoconstriction or increased heart rate as a response to hypovolemia. The capacity to respond adequately to volume contraction may be reduced due to patient- or treatment-related factors, among which heat accumulation within the body plays a major role. Recently, two newer technical developments became commercially available for use in hemodialysis therapy: devices for blood volume and blood temperature control were designed to reduce the incidence of intradialytic hypotension. Although blood volume and temperature measurements are easy to perform today, there is some uncertainty in the dialysis community how and when their use may be helpful and in which patients it is indicated. This review critically discusses the application of blood volume- and temperature-measuring devices with regard to their usefulness in the clinical setting.