Diaphragmatic Ultrasound and Pulmonary Functions Evaluation in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: The last stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD), known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), occurs when the kidneys can no longer operate well enough to meet basic demands. Dialysis or transplantation are necessary for the survival of ESRD. Aim and objectives: To assess hemodialysis's (HD) impact on ESRD patients' diaphragmatic and pulmonary functions. Patients and methods: This case-control study, which began in April 2023 and ended in May 2024, involved one hundred adults at Al-Hussein Al-Azhar University Hospital in Cairo. Results: A statistical analysis indicated that the HD group's diaphragmatic thickness was significantly smaller (2.21±0.2) than that of the control group (2.91±0.4) during right tidal inspiration. Conclusion: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are taking their standard HD medication may have mild, moderate, or severe diaphragmatic dysfunction; fortunately, diaphragmatic ultrasonography is a valuable technique for detecting this dysfunction early on. Ultrasound is a perfect diagnostic tool because of its low cost, excellent sensitivity, and specificity. It will be an innovative approach to bettering HD patients' clinical outcomes.