Usefulness of short-term peripheral ambulatory ultrafiltration in heart failure refractory to diuretics. Initial experience

Abstract

Introduction and objective: In heart failure congestion is the most common symptom and diuretic resistance is frequent. This study aims to analyse whether short-term peripheral outpatient ultrafiltration (UF) is useful and safe in these patients.

Material and methods: The first 5 patients ultrafiltrated for diuretic resistance in a fast-track unit of a referral hospital for 12hours were analysed.

Results: These patients were on treatment with at least 3 oral diuretics; UF made it possible to reduce and/or withdraw some of them. The volume extracted during the procedure was 1520±271ml. There were significant changes in diuresis (PreUF: 1360±164, PostUF: 1670±254ml; P=.035), weight (PreUF: 69.6±14, PostUF: 66.2±15kg; P=.0001) and creatinine (PreUF: 2.1±0.3, PostUF: 1.8±0.4mg; P= 0.023).

Conclusions: In outpatients with heart failure and diuretic resistance, short-course peripheral UF was effective and safe.

Keywords: Ambulatoria; Ambulatory; Decongestion; Descongestión; Diuretic resistance; Peripheral ultrafiltration; Resistencia diurética; Ultrafiltración periférica.