Fluid Overload Treatment

Each year, millions of hospital heart failure (HF) patients require treatment for fluid overload. This fluid overload leads to fatigue, edema, and shortness of breath. In the U.S., 5 million patients are afflicted with HF, with new cases increasing 8% each year.1 HF is the leading Medicare discharge diagnosis, accounting for more than $20 billion in annual hospitalization costs.

Currently, the vast majority of HF patients are treated with IV diuretics, inotropes and combination therapies. These pharmacological approaches may not always provide  timely relief of symptoms without adverse effects for those with advanced HF. Patients manifest signs of persistent fluid overload for an average of 15 hours after admission2 and readmission rates are 30-60% within 6 months of initial discharge.3,4

There is another treatment alternative: isolated ultrafiltration, which uses an extracorporeal filter to remove isotonic fluid. Advantages include:

• Therapy is controlled and predictable, removing fluid at commanded rates even when urinary output or diuretic responsiveness is low.
• Allows significant sodium removal while helping to avoid other electrolyte disturbances.
• A number of clinical advantages have been ascribed to ultrafiltration (However, more clinical data is needed to support use of ultrafiltration as a first line treatment for HF).

Despite these benefits, isolated ultrafiltration is currently used in only about 2% of HF cases. One limitation to increased utilization of ultrafiltration for HF has been that traditional equipment is too complicated for such a simple therapy.

The NxStage System One overcomes this limitation, providing a simple platform to administer ultrafiltration therapy as part of an overall inpatient program.

Download UF Study Summary.