June 10, 2021 -- Ultrasound is a useful guide in determining lung congestion for hemodialysis patients at high cardiovascular risk, according to research presented on June 6 at the European Renal Association -- European Dialysis and Transplant Association virtual congress.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Claudia Torino from the National Research Council of Italy found that patients with end-stage kidney disease who underwent lung ultrasound showed significantly less frequent episodes of decompensated heart failure and major cardiovascular events.
"Ultrasound examinations are available virtually everywhere in the hospital environment and do not take long to perform, so they can be deployed to diagnose and treat an ominous complication like lung congestion in hemodialysis patients," Torino said.