The hemodialysis prescription is a complex formula of treatment options tailored to the needs of each individual patient. Historically much emphasis has been given to the toxin removal aspect of dialysis in the form of numerous commercial advances, complex methods of analyzing clearance, improved dialyzer membranes, etc. However, the fluid removal portion of dialysis has remained largely unchanged since the advent of hemodialysis. Accurate assessment of dry weight, defined as the weight at which the patient is normotensive and free of edema, is critical to the long term cardiovascular health of the patient.

Belding H. Scribner states in the forward of Cardiovascular Aspects of Dialysis Treatment - The importance of volume control by Evert J. Dorhout Mees, Kluwer Academic Publishers 2000, "Dry weight, and the normal blood pressure that goes with it, is a constantly changing value that must be re-determined with each dialysis. Since it is easier to give a pill and pretend that one is treating hypertension in the dialysis patient, hypertension is so poorly controlled world wide that an epidemic of its numerous complications is now present in the world's dialysis population." It thus appears that current methods of dry weight measurement may not be ideal.

Please review the clinical benefit presentation to see what others have been able to achieve when using Crit-Line as a fluid management device.

Dialysis accesses can be considered the Achilles' heel of dialysis. No other aspect of dialysis accounts for as many missed treatments or as much cost. Crit-Line provides a comprehensive suite of access management tools to minimize the impact of access failure. Access blood flow monitoring using a revolutionary transcutaneous method, traditional access recirculation, and finally blood volume monitoring (minimizing hypovolemia) contribute to monitoring and thus maintaining ideal access function.