Please define. Also, dialysate flow..how is this determined?

Dialysate: The liquid product used to dialyze a patient. Generally, this is produced by combining acid, bicarbonate, and water. This is sometimes also refered to as the 'dialysis bath'.

Dialysate flow: Part of the dialysis prescription, and can be altered slightly to help improve overall dialysis adequacy. Generally ranges between 500 and 800 cc's per minute. This is how fast the dialysate is being moved through the dialyzer. Some individuals recommend that dialysate flow is two times greater than blood flow for optimal dialysis.

Carol

Why does the dialysate flow rangre from between 500 and 800? What determines the speed? What is acid and what is bicarb?

Dialysate flow is simply the speed the dialysate is being supplied to the system. The range is determined by the ability of the machines, and what would be considered optimal for the patient.

Acid and bicarb are parts of the dialysate. Read the comments under acid, bicarb, pH, and conductivity for more comments about this!

Take care,
Carol