Dialysis Knowledge

Question 1

What is albumin?
What is the level recommended by the DOQI?
What is albumin’s clinical importance?
How are albumin levels improved?

Answer 1

Albumin is a protein present in the blood. Low levels can be caused by poor protein intake or inflammation.

> or = 4.0 mg/dl

Low albumin leads to an increase in illness and death. It is also an osmotic agent that helps pull fluid from tissues

Dietitians monitor albumin levels and recommend dietary changes. Teammates also need to check for inflammation and infections.

Question 2

What are the two measures of dialysis adequacy?

Answer 2

Kt/v and URR

Question 3

How is Kt/v calculated?

What is the recommended value for KT/V?

Answer 3

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are taken before and after dialysis. These ratings are put in to an equation including the patient’s height and weight.

The recommended level is at least 1.2 for hemodialysis and 1.7 for peritoneal dialysis

Question 4

What is Systolic blood pressure?

Answer 4

Measures the pressure in arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts)

Question 5

What is Diastolic blood pressure?

Answer 5

Measures the blood pressure between heart beats (when the heart muscle is resting and refilling with blood)

Question 6

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

Question 7

What blood pressure reading is indicative of a hypertensive crisis?

Answer 7

180 mm Hg systolic OR 110 mm Hg diastolic

If you see this, wait a minute and measure again. If it is still high then immediately get to the hospital

Question 8

What blood pressure reading is indicative of high blood pressure (Hypertension stage 1)?

Answer 8

140-159 mm Hg systolic OR 90-99 mm Hg diastolic

Question 9

What are the seven dimensions that go into the DQI?

Answer 9

Albumin
Adequacy testing (Kt/v and URR)
Access type
Phosphorous
Calcium
PTH (parathyroid hormone)
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