D4D project presented at international nephrology conference

D4D team members from St. James’ Hospital, Leeds, have implemented a novel approach to body composition monitoring which allows many more patients to benefit from this objective assessment of haemodialysis patients’ fluid status. This helps ensure that the right amount of fluid is removed from the patient’s body during their treatment.

D4D’s Renal Technology Theme works to facilitate the development and adoption of systems, devices and services to assist renal patients’ independence and help achieve better outcomes. One of the Theme’s key projects is the validation and implementation of body composition monitoring (BCM) which provides an objective assessment of haemodialysis patients’ fluid status.

The models used for BCM were developed and validated for measurements between hand and foot, meaning that patients with lower limb amputations or heavily bandaged feet can be excluded from measurements. The team in Leeds performed a study which compared hydration measurements made from hand to hand to standard hand to foot measurements in 101 patients.

Sufficient agreement was found between the readings to encourage the use of this approach in patients unsuitable for a standard measurement. Consequently, a number of patients in the care of the Renal Unit in Leeds, such as bilateral amputee Terry seen right, are benefitting from having their fluid removal routinely guided by hand to hand measurements.

This work was recently presented at the annual conference of the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association and European Renal Care Association in Strasbourg to great interest.

For the conference abstract, see abstract O52 in:
http://www.edtnaerca.org/pdf/education/2012_Abstract_Book.pdf