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Dialysis Efficiency (Kt/V) Calculator

Developed by Medindia Content Team | Calculator Reviewed by Dr. Jasmine Sethi, MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM Nephrology on Sep 10, 2024
This Kt/V calculator helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your dialysis. By calculating the Kt/V and Urea Reduction Ratio (URR), you can determine if your dialysis sessions are meeting your treatment needs.

Kt/V Calculator

Pre-dialysis BUN:
(BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Post-dialysis BUN:
(BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen)
(measured 2 to 5 minutes after the end of dialysis)
Dialysis time:
Ultrafiltration Volume:
Postdialysis Weight:
* All fields are mandatory.

What is Kt/V?

Like any other medication or treatment, dialysis also has to be tailored to meet the requirements of the patient. The parameter that helps the doctors find out if the dialysis you are receiving is adequate is Kt/V. It is the ratio of urea clearance (K) multiplied by dialysis time (t) to the volume of water in your body. Kt/V values can be improved by either increasing blood flow rate through the dialyser, which increases urea clearance, or by increasing the duration of dialysis sessions.

If you are on dialysis, is it working for you? You should begin to feel better when your blood is getting adequately cleaned. Use this calculator to check if your dialysis session was efficient. Kt/V and Urea Reduction Ratio (URR) are two parameters used to measure the adequacy of dialysis, and consequently dialysis dose. Kt/V indicates the amount of blood cleared of urea and Urea Reduction Ratio is the percentage of urea cleared from your body.

Ideally Kt/V must be greater than 1.2 per dialysis session  and URR must be above 65%

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Additional Information

It is important to ensure that your dialysis sessions are consistently efficient. You may not immediately feel the harmful effects of waste materials building up in your body, but some symptoms can help you figure out if you are receiving inadequate dialysis.

Watch out for:


There are some simple methods to ensure that you get adequate dialysis.
  • Be on time for your dialysis sessions
  • Make sure you stay till the end of the treatment session
  • Don't settle for lesser treatment time in case the staff wants to leave
  • Ensure you make up for time lost during bathroom trips or machine breakdowns
  • If you feel uneasy or restless towards the end don't hesitate to ask for help
  • Take note of how many times a dialyser is being reused and note down when you get a new dialyser.
  • Ensure that a new dialyser is rinsed well with saline before use
  • Try to get a new dialyser if you feel a reused one is not working for you
  • Strictly follow the fluid intake limits between sessions

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What is Kt/V?

Like any other medication or treatment, dialysis also has to be tailored to meet the requirements of the patient. The parameter that helps the doctors find out if the dialysis you are receiving is adequate is Kt/V. It is the ratio of urea clearance (K) multiplied by dialysis time (t) to the volume of water in your body. Kt/V values can be improved by either increasing blood flow rate through the dialyser, which increases urea clearance, using a big dialyser or by increasing the duration of dialysis sessions.

Post a Comment

Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. The editorial team reserves the right to review and moderate the comments posted on the site.

Comments

robin-haddock

Is there a way to manually calculate the KT/v if you don't have pre and post labs?

nancy-mathias

I just want to know will any complimentary therapies like music and mindfulness along with HD will have an effect on Kt/V???

memee2009

This article I notice may be for hemodialysis patients?

d.-warner

My husband does home treatments, his kt/v is in the range of 2.6-2.7 his last month's adequacy readings were 1.8 as told to me by his nurse...she requested that he repeat the test...it came back the same. We go for his monthly clinic visit next week...Question: should I be worried?

Goldsboropiper, United States

My wife is on PD. Normally her KT/V is in the range of 2.5-2.9 but her last Adequacy test results were .95. Is it normal for a patient to occasionally not have a good reading? Is this something to worry about? We haven't changed her routine.



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