Bipedal bioelectrical impedance analysis reproducibly estimates total body water in hemodialysis patients.

Formal kinetic modeling for hemodialysis patients requires accurate determination of in vivo dialyzer clearance, careful measurement of the actual dialysis time, and calculation of the patient's total body water (V) or urea space. Bipedal (BP) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple method for the determination of V at the same time the patient is weighed. Because of better correlation with the Watson formula volume and a smaller coefficient of variation than urea kinetic volumes, BP-BIA estimates of V may be preferred in dialysis units that meet guidelines by following formal kinetic modeling data or use V estimates in calculating treatment time. Copyright 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.