Abstract
Patients requiring hemodialysis have a variety of dialysis-associated complications. In particular, hypotension, which is a potential complication of chronic hemodialysis patients, unexpectedly occurs during treatment and interrupts the continuation of dialysis, creating a feeling of distress for patients. In light of stabilizing the blood pressure during dialysis, we have focused on the venous return as a factor leading to the stabilization of blood volume changes(ΔBV) and investigated the possibility that accelerated venous return results in maintaining the blood pressure during hemodialysis. The subjects of this study were 18 hemodialysis patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We used a sequential pneumatic compression massage tool(foot pump) to accelerate the venous return during hemodialysis. The venous return was accelerated by continuous massage with the foot pump during hemodialysis. Conditions of the massage were classified into 4 categories: condition 1 was no massage(control), condition 2 was slight massage, condition 3 was hard massage, and condition 4 was automatic massage. Values of ΔBV and blood pressure were observed under these conditions. As a result, a more significant stabilization of ΔBV and the blood pressure in hemodialysis sessions with massage was noted compared to sessions without massage. Sensory changes were also studied and compared: pre-dialysis, post-dialysis, and after returning home. In condition 2, significantly more favorable results of sensory changes were obtained after than before dialysis. Consequently, this research showed that the prevention of dialysis-induced hypotension by accelerating the venous return is feasible.