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.