Home hemodialysis and remote monitoring: current technology, requirements and capabilities.

The changing patterns of utilization of home hemodialysis (HHD) are reviewed with special reference to the factors responsible for its decline and recent revival. Equipment and monitoring systems dedicated to HHD have been recently introduced in response to the demand for more frequent therapies at home. The advantages and disadvantages of novel technology versus time-tested, reliable and versatile platforms are discussed.

The Fresenius Medical Care home hemodialysis system.

The Fresenius Medical Care home dialysis system consists of a newly designed machine, a central monitoring system, a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis module, ultrapure water, and all the services associated with a successful implementation. The 2008K@home hemodialysis machine has the flexibility to accommodate the changing needs of the home hemodialysis patient and is well suited to deliver short daily or prolonged nocturnal dialysis using a broad range of dialysate flows and concentrates. The intuitive design, large graphic illustrations, and step-by-step tutorial make this equipment very user friendly.

Evolution of home hemodialysis monitoring systems.

Systems for monitoring hemodialysis patients at home have evolved during the past 30 years. They consist of hardware and software to record dialysis events from the home hemodialysis machine and transmit them to a server, which in turn sends the data to a remote central monitoring center. Most of the parameters monitored are related to machine function and events.

Equipment and water treatment considerations for the provision of quotidian home hemodialysis.

Background: Whereas clinical benefits of more frequent hemodialysis (HD) treatment are well documented, little information is available about technical aspects involved in setting up a patient's home for home HD. Technical considerations include the home infrastructure, as well as required plumbing modifications and electrical hook-ups.

Methods: Twenty home HD installations were supported for the London Daily/Nocturnal Hemodialysis Study.

Information technology and acute dialysis.

The careful application of information technology to the field of acute dialysis may result in both a better understanding of the disease as well as an improvement in patient outcomes. Often these applications increase costs and complexity with little change in understanding or quality of care. To avoid this common trap, a targeted assessment of needs and possible solutions is mandatory.