Introduction

While the last few years have witnessed a massive increase in new information concerning acute kidney injury (AKI), two areas have experienced much of this growth: contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT). In early 2012, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), a nonprofit foundation, published the first international, interdisciplinary clinical practice guideline on AKI [1], which is available in its entirety on the KDIGO website [2]. We present here a shortened version of the guideline covering CI-AKI and management of RRT for AKI, and provide additional rationale and commentary for those recommendation statements that most directly impact the practice of critical care.

Methods

A complete and detailed description of the methods can been found online [3]. The KDIGO Co-Chairs appointed two Co-Chairs of the Work Group, who then assembled experts in several domains (nephrology, critical care medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, radiology, infectious diseases, and epidemiology). The Evidence Review Team at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA consisted of physician-methodologists with expertise in nephrology and internal medicine, and research associates and assistants.

The evidence selection, appraisal, and presentation have followed methodology previously described in KDIGO clinical practice guidelines [4]. Work Group members reviewed all retrieved relevant articles, data extraction forms, summary tables, and evidence profiles for accuracy and completeness. The four major topic areas of interest for AKI included: definition and classification; prevention; pharmacologic treatment; and RRT. Populations of interest were those at risk for AKI (including those after intravascular contrast-media exposure, aminoglycosides, and amphotericin), and patients with sepsis or trauma or those receiving critical care or undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. We excluded studies on AKI from rhabdomyolysis, specific infections, and poisoning or drug overdose. Overall, we screened 18,385 citations.

Outcome selection, judgments, values, and preferences

We limited outcomes to those important for decision-making, including development of AKI, need for or dependence on RRT, and all-cause mortality. When weighting the evidence across different outcomes, we selected as the crucial outcome that which weighed most heavily in the assessment of the overall quality of evidence. Values and preferences articulated by the Work Group included: a desire to be inclusive in terms of meeting criteria for AKI; a progressive approach to risk and cost such that, as severity increased, the group put greater value on possible effectiveness of strategies, but maintained high value for avoidance of harm; and intent to guide practice but not limit future research.

Grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations

The grading approach followed in this guideline and the wording of each recommendation are adopted from the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system [4, 5]. The strength of each recommendation is rated as level 1 (strong) or level 2 (weak or discretionary). In addition, each statement is assigned a grade for the quality of the supporting evidence: A (high), B (moderate), C (low), or D (very low). Furthermore, on topics that cannot be subjected to systematic evidence review, the Work Group issued statements that are not graded which hopefully will provide general guidance based on clinical experience.

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system is best suited to evaluate evidence on comparative effectiveness. Some of our most important guideline topics involve diagnosis and staging of AKI, and here the Work Group chose to provide ungraded statements. These statements are indirectly supported by evidence on risk relationships and resulted from unanimous consensus of the Work Group and should not be viewed as weaker than graded recommendations.

Recommendations and rationale

The Work Group developed 61 graded recommendation statements and 26 ungraded statements. The six major domains are: (A) definition and staging; (B) risk assessment; (C) evaluation and general management; (D) prevention and treatment; (E) CI-AKI; and (F) RRT for AKI. Domains (E) and (F) are presented here, while domains (A) through (D) are discussed in the preceding review.

E. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury

Classification and risk assessment

Pending the validation of future biomarkers that would allow a more straightforward comparison and integration of CI-AKI in the overall framework of AKI, we suggest that the same criteria using the changes in serum creatinine (SCr) concentrations and urine output be used as for the other forms of AKI. A CI-AKI Consensus Working Panel agreed that the risk of CI-AKI becomes clinically important when the baseline SCr concentration is ≥1.3 mg/dl (≥115 μmol/l) in men and ≥1.0 mg/dl (≥88.4 μmol/l) in women, equivalent to an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/minute per 1.73 m2 [6]. However, Bruce and colleagues showed that the incidence of true AKI became significant only between controls and contrast-media administered patients from a baseline SCr concentration >1.8 mg/dl (>159 μmol/l) onward [7]. The CI-AKI Consensus Working Panel recommended that precautions to reduce the risk should be implemented in patients with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/minute per 1.73 m2 [6]. In light of more recent information, this threshold could probably be lowered to 45 ml/minute per 1.73 m2. Table 1 provides a CI-AKI risk-scoring model for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Table 1 Contrast-induced acute kidney injury risk-scoring model for percutaneous coronary intervention
Full size table

In patients at increased risk for CI-AKI, the risks and benefits of iodinated contrast-media administration should be discussed with the radiologist. One should note that magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium contrast is not a safe alternative for many patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction. New labeling describes the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis following exposure to gadolinium in patients with a glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/minute per 1.73 m2 and in patients with AKI of any severity due to hepatorenal syndrome or in the perioperative liver transplantation period. Additional recommendations were recently proposed by Perazella [8] and were endorsed by the Work Group.

  1. E1:

    Define and stage AKI after administration of intravascular contrast media as per Recommendations A1 and A2 (not graded)

  2. E1.1:

    In individuals who develop changes in kidney function after administration of intravascular contrast media, evaluate for CI-AKI as well as for other possible causes of AKI (not graded)

  3. E2:

    Assess the risk for CI-AKI and, in particular, screen for pre-existing impairment of kidney function in all patients who are considered for a procedure that requires intravascular (intravenous or intraarterial) administration of iodinated contrast medium (not graded)

Contrast type and volume

The correlation between the volume of contrast media administered and the risk of CI-AKI has been recognized [10]. A recent study by Nyman and colleagues in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty calculated the probability of CI-AKI (SCr rise >0.5 mg/dl (>44.2 μmol/l) or oliguria/anuria) at various estimated glomerular filtration rate levels based on grams of iodine/estimated glomerular filtration rate ratios of 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 [11]. At a ratio <1 the risk of CI-AKI was 3%, while it was 25% at a ratio ≥1. This study and other preliminary studies indicate that a ratio <1 may be relatively safe in a patient without multiple risk factors [11–13].

Both the review by Goldfarb and colleagues [14] and the meta-analysis from Barrett and Carlisle combining 24 randomized studies [15] suggest that the risk of CI-AKI is similarly low with high-osmolar and low-osmolar agents among otherwise stable patients with normal renal function. In contrast to high-osmolar contrast media, however, low-osmolar contrast media are less nephrotoxic in patients with pre-existing kidney function impairment.

Among low and iso-osmolar contrast, of eight studies comparing contrast media [16–23] some showed superiority of iso-osmolar contrast media (iodixanol) compared with iohexol [16] and iopromide [21]. There was no difference when iodixanol was compared with iopamidol [18, 23], iopromide [17, 19], and ioversal [22]. A recent meta-analysis [24] analyzed studies comparing iodixanol with low-osmolar contrast media. The pooled relative risk was 0.68 (95% confidence interval = 0.46 to 1.01; P = 0.06). Iodixanol is thus not associated with a significantly reduced risk of CI-AKI compared with the low-osmolar contrast media pooled together. In patients with decreased kidney function, however, iodixanol is associated with a reduced risk of CI-AKI compared with iohexol.

For iodixanol versus ioxaglate, two studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria; one study showed a superiority of iodixanol versus ioxaglate [25], but this was not confirmed in the study by Mehran and colleagues that found no difference between these two contrast agents [26]. Based on this evidence and the most recent meta-analysis of the studies comparing iso-osmolar versus low-osmolar contrast media [24], the Work Group found no evidence to recommend a preference for either type of agent.

  1. E3:

    Consider alternative imaging methods in patients at increased risk for CI-AKI (not graded)

  2. E4:

    Use the lowest possible dose of contrast medium in patients at risk for CI-AKI (not graded)

  3. E5:

    We recommend using either iso-osmolar or low-osmolar iodinated contrast media, rather than high-osmolar iodinated contrast media, in patients at increased risk of CI-AKI (Grade 1B)

Volume expansion

Sodium bicarbonate solutions have been tested in the prevention of CI-AKI in comparison with isotonic saline, either with or without N-acetylcysteine (NAC). A number of systematic reviews on the role of sodium bicarbonate compared with isotonic saline in the prevention of CI-AKI are available [27–33]. The most recent and probably the most complete systematic review analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of intravenous sodium bicarbonate that prespecified the outcome of CI- AKI as a 25% increase in baseline SCr concentration or an absolute increase of 0.5 mg/dl (44.2 μmol/l) after contrast-media administration [33]. Twenty-three published and unpublished trials with information on 3,563 patients and 396 CI-AKI events were included. The pooled relative risk was 0.62 (95% confidence interval = 0.45 to 0.86), with evidence of significant heterogeneity across studies due to the difference in the estimates between published and unpublished studies. Meta-regression showed that small, poor-quality studies that assessed outcomes soon after contrast-media administration were more likely to suggest the benefit of bicarbonate (P <0.05 for all). No clear effects of treatment on the risk for dialysis, heart failure, and total mortality were identified.

One should note that mixing of the bicarbonate solution is often done at the bedside or in the hospital pharmacy, with the possibility for errors leading to the infusion of a hypertonic bicarbonate solution. The potential for harm from dosing errors and the added burden from this bedside preparation have to be taken into account in clinical practice when making a choice between using bicarbonate rather than standard isotonic saline solutions. Taken together, the Work Group concluded that there is a possible but inconsistent benefit of bicarbonate solutions based on overall moderate-quality evidence. The potential of harm and the burden for preparing the bicarbonate solutions led the Work Group not to express a preference for or against one solution (isotonic saline or isotonic bicarbonate). Either solution can therefore be used for the prevention of CI-AKI. In any case, volume expansion should be intravenous. Oral volume expansion may have some benefit, but there is insufficient evidence to show it is as effective as intravenous volume expansion [34].

  1. E6:

    We recommend intravenous volume expansion with either isotonic sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate solutions, rather than no intravenous volume expansion, in patients at increased risk for CI-AKI (Grade 1A)

  2. E7:

    We recommend not using oral fluids alone in patients at increased risk for CI-AKI (Grade 1C)

Other interventions to reduce contrast-induced AKI

Many, but not all, studies have shown NAC to have a protective effect on CI-AKI when administered before the onset of renal insult (for a review, see McCullough [35]). In addition, NAC is inexpensive and appears to be safe, although it may have some detrimental effects on myocardial and coagulation function [36–38]. The safety of NAC should further be amended, particularly when high intravenous doses are used, as in some of the RCTs in CI-AKI. When prospectively studied in acetaminophen poisoning, intravenous NAC produced anaphylactoid reactions in up to 48% of participants [39]. Although most of these reactions were mild, at least one death has been reported in a patient with asthma [40]. Based on the existing evidence, the overall benefit of NAC is not consistent or overwhelming. On the other hand, oral NAC has a low risk of adverse events and usually a low cost.

The efficacy of theophylline in preventing CI-AKI has been addressed by a systematic review and meta-analysis in 2005 [41], and by another meta-analysis in 2008 [42]. Both meta-analyses indicated a nonsignificant trend toward a renoprotective effect of theophylline prophylaxis but the overall benefit was small and findings were inconsistent across studies. The benefit tended to be less marked in patients receiving iso-osmolar, nonionic contrast media, and in patients undergoing a predefined saline protocol. Two prospective randomized trials of fenoldopam for CI-AKI showed negative results [43, 44].

Contrast media can be efficiently removed from blood by intermittent hemodialysis (IHD), and a single session effectively removes 60 to 90% of contrast media [45, 46]. On the basis of these observations, several studies have explored the prophylactic value of IHD in patients at high risk for AKI, but most of these studies have not demonstrated a reduced incidence of CI-AKI [46, 47]. A recent meta-analysis of studies using periprocedural extra-corporeal blood purification techniques concluded that such treatments did not decrease the incidence of CI-AKI [45].

  1. E8:

    We suggest using oral NAC, together with intravenous isotonic crystalloids, in patients at increased risk of CI-AKI (Grade 2D)

  2. E9:

    We suggest not using theophylline to prevent CI-AKI (Grade 2C)

  3. E10:

    We recommend not using fenoldopam to prevent CI-AKI (Grade 1B)

  4. E11:

    We suggest not using prophylactic IHD or hemofiltration for contrast-media removal in patients at increased risk for CI-AKI (Grade 2C)

F. Renal replacement therapy for treatment of AKI

Initiating and discontinuing RRT for patients with AKI

While no RCTs exist for dialysis for life-threatening indications, it is widely accepted that patients with severe hyperkalemia, severe acidosis, pulmonary edema, and uremic complications should be dialyzed emergently. In the absence of kidney function, and when therapeutic measures that promote the intracellular shift of potassium (such as correction of acidosis with bicarbonate, glucose and insulin infusion, and β2 agonists) are exhausted, an excess of potassium can only be eliminated with RRT.

Provision of acute RRT to children requires special consideration. The epidemiology of pediatric AKI has changed from primary kidney disease in the 1980s to injury resulting from another systemic illness or its treatment (for example, sepsis and nephrotoxic medications) [48, 49]. Newborns with inborn errors of metabolism who do not respond to dietary and pharmacologic management require expeditious dialytic removal of ammonia to decrease the risk of death and long-term neurologic dysfunction [50], and infants who receive surgical correction of congenital heart disease often receive peritoneal dialysis early after cardiopulmonary bypass to prevent fluid overload and/or minimize the proinflammatory response. Finally, children develop multiorgan dysfunction very rapidly in their ICU course, with the maximal organ dysfunction occurring with 72 hours and mortality occurring within 7 days of ICU admission, respectively [51, 52]. In both children and adults, therefore, the issue of timing of dialysis initiation is critically important. Fluid overload has emerged as a significant factor associated with mortality in children as well as adults with AKI requiring RRT, although the physiological link between increasing percentage volume overload and mortality is not completely clear [53–59].

Many, but not all, patients requiring RRT will recover enough function not to require long-term RRT [60–62]. The mean duration of RRT in two recent large RCTs was 12 to 13 days [63, 64]. Daily assessment of both intrinsic kidney function and the ongoing appropriateness of RRT consistent with the goals of therapy for the patient is therefore required. Analysis from the BEST KIDNEY study showed that continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) was withdrawn in 13% of the patients, representing 29% of those who died while on CRRT and 21% of all nonsurvivors [65].

Only one RCT has evaluated the potential role of diuretics in resolving AKI in patients receiving RRT [66]. In this trial, there were no differences in need for repeated continuous venovenous hemofiltration or renal recovery during the ICU or hospital stay. An observational study of discontinuation of RRT also found no difference in diuretic use between patents with successful or unsuccessful discontinuation of IHD [67].

  1. F1:

    Initiate RRT emergently when life-threatening changes in fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance exist (not graded)

  2. F2:

    Consider the broader clinical context, the presence of conditions that can be modified with RRT, and trends of laboratory tests - rather than single blood urea nitrogen and creatinine thresholds alone - when making the decision to start RRT (not graded)

  3. F3:

    Discontinue RRT when it is no longer required, either because intrinsic kidney function has recovered to the point that it is adequate to meet patient needs, or because RRT is no longer consistent with the goals of care (not graded)

  4. F4:

    We suggest not using diuretics to enhance kidney function recovery or to reduce the duration or frequency of RRT (Grade 2B)

Anticoagulation for RRT

A recent meta-analysis of 11 RCTs comparing unfractionated heparin with low-molecular-weight heparin in chronic IHD concluded that both are equally safe in terms of bleeding complications and equally as effective in preventing extracorporeal thrombosis [68]. Mainly because of the convenience of using a single bolus injection at the start of IHD, the reduced risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), and long-term side effects such as abnormal serum lipids, osteoporosis, and hypoaldosteronism, the European practice guideline for prevention of dialyzer clotting suggests using low-molecular-weight heparin rather than unfractionated heparin in chronic dialysis patients [69]. Many European centers have extrapolated this to IHD for AKI, although studies in this setting are lacking.

Crossover comparison of prostacyclin with low-molecular-weight heparin in chronic dialysis patients shows reduced efficiency [70]. A small trial showed reduced bleeding complications compared with low-dose heparin, but at the expense of slightly more premature terminations [71]. Additional drawbacks are systemic hypotension and the high costs. The routine use of alternative anticoagulants therefore cannot be recommended in patients with AKI.

Five randomized trials have compared citrate with heparins during CRRT [72–76]. For ethical reasons, these trials were performed in patients without increased bleeding risk. Overall, citrate appears to be superior to heparin in terms of either filter survival or patient outcomes or both. In the largest and most recent randomized trial, 200 patients treated with postdilution continuous venovenous hemofiltration were randomized to citrate or to nadroparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin [76]. Safety was significantly better in the citrate group while circuit survival did not significantly differ. Rather surprisingly, an improved renal recovery and an improved hospital survival were also found in the citrate group. This observation requires further investigation. Metabolic complications were infrequent in these randomized trials. In observational trials, the most frequent metabolic complication with citrate is metabolic alkalosis, occurring in up to 50% of the patients [77–79]. In recently published surveys or large clinical trials, the use of regional citrate anticoagulation is still limited to 0 to 20% of the patients/treatments [63, 64, 80]. The Work Group therefore only recommends the use of citrate for anticoagulation during CRRT in patients that do not have shock or severe liver failure, and in centers that have an established protocol for citrate anticoagulation.

Unfractionated heparin still remains the most widely used anticoagulant during CRRT [63, 64, 80], mostly administered as a prefilter infusion, with large variability in the administered doses. When choosing a dose of heparin, the clinician should realize that the relationship between the heparin dose, the activated partial thromboplastin time, filter survival, and bleeding complications is not straightforward [81–87], but it is common practice to measure the activated partial thromboplastin time for safety reasons and to adapt the target to the bleeding risk of the patient. No advantage has been found for low-molecular-weight heparin for CRRT [83]. In one study, daily costs, including the coagulation assays, were 10% higher with dalteparin [88]. Alternative anticoagulants include the protease inhibitor nafamostat and the platelet inhibitors, prostacyclin and analogues. Both have a short half-life and a low molecular weight, with the theoretical advantage of extracorporeal elimination and reduced systemic anticoagulation. Nafamostat is a protease inhibitor that is mainly used in Japan and is not available in the USA or Europe. Small observational trials in chronic dialysis patients with increased bleeding risk suggest a reduced bleeding incidence [89–91]. Concerns with nafamostat include the absence of an antidote, and side effects such as anaphylaxis, hyperkalemia, and bone marrow suppression [92–94].

A few small trials showed improved filter survival during CRRT when adding prostaglandins to heparin compared with heparin alone [95–97]. However, prostaglandins appear to have a limited efficacy when used alone, induce systemic hypotension [98, 99], and are expensive. Their use during CRRT therefore cannot be recommended.

We suggest performing RRT without anticoagulation in patients with increased bleeding risk. A possible exception can be made for patients who do not have contraindications for citrate. With regard to the diagnosis and management of HIT, we refer to the recent guideline of the American College of Chest Physicians [100] and the European best practice guideline on chronic dialysis [69]. Alternative nonheparin anticoagulants in patients with strong suspicion of HIT are recommended. Candidates are the direct thrombin inhibitors lepirudin, argatroban, or bivaluridin, or the antithrombin-dependent activated factor X inhibitors danaparoid or fondaparinix. Pharmacokinetic data and dosing guidelines for these alternative anticoagulants have been published for IHD [101, 102] and CRRT [103].

  1. F5:

    In a patient with AKI requiring RRT, base the decision to use anticoagulation for RRT on assessment of the patient's potential risks and benefits from anticoagulation (see Figure 1) (not graded)

Figure 1
figure 1

Flow-chart summary of recommendations. Heparin includes low-molecular-weight heparin or unfractionated heparin. CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy; RRT, renal replacement therapy.

Full size image
  1. F5.1:

    We recommend using anticoagulation during RRT in AKI if a patient does not have an increased bleeding risk or impaired coagulation and is not already receiving systemic anticoagulation (Grade 1B)

  2. F6:

    For patients without an increased bleeding risk or impaired coagulation and not already receiving effective systemic anticoagulation, we suggest the following:

  3. F6.1:

    For anticoagulation in intermittent RRT, we recommend using either unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin, rather than other anticoagulants (Grade 1C)

  4. F6.2:

    For anticoagulation in CRRT, we suggest using regional citrate anticoagulation rather than heparin in patients who do not have contraindications for citrate (Grade 2B)

  5. F6.3:

    For anticoagulation during CRRT in patients who have contraindications for citrate, we suggest using either unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin, rather than other anticoagulants (Grade 2C)

  6. F7:

    For patients with increased bleeding risk who are not receiving anticoagulation, we suggest the following for anticoagulation during RRT:

  7. F7.1:

    We suggest using regional citrate anticoagulation, rather than no anticoagulation, during CRRT in a patient without contraindications for citrate (Grade 2C)

  8. F7.2:

    We suggest avoiding regional heparinization during CRRT in a patient with increased risk of bleeding (Grade 2C)

  9. F8:

    In a patient with HIT, all heparin must be stopped and we recommend using directthrombin inhibitors (such as argatroban) or Factor Xa inhibitors (such as danaparoid or fondaparinux) rather than other or no anticoagulation during RRT (Grade 1A)

  10. F8.1:

    In a patient with HIT who does not have severe liver failure, we suggest using argatroban rather than other thrombin or Factor Xa inhibitors during RRT (Grade 2C)

Vascular access and dialysis membranes

Both the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for prevention of catheter-related infections and the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guideline for vascular access in chronic dialysis patients recommend using a cued catheter for dialysis if a prolonged (for example, >1 to 3 weeks) period of temporary access is anticipated [104, 105]. In two recent large randomized trials, the mean duration of RRT for AKI was 12 to 13 days [63, 64]. This duration probably does not justify the burden of an initial tunneled catheter in all patients with AKI receiving RRT. Rather, selected use of tunneled catheters in patients who require prolonged RRT is warranted.

Although generally associated with the lowest rate of infectious complications, the Centers for Disease Control guideline as well as the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guideline recommend avoiding the subclavian vein for RRT access [104, 105], because this may lead to central vein stenosis and jeopardize subsequent permanent access. Recirculation has been shown to be more frequent in femoral than subclavian or jugular dialysis catheters, especially with shorter femoral catheters [106, 107]. Catheter insertion should be performed with strict adherence to infection-control policies, including maximal sterile barrier precautions and chlorhexidine 2% skin antisepsis [105, 108, 109].

Two meta-analyses exploring the role of real-time two-dimensional ultrasound for central vein cannulation concluded that, compared with the landmark method, ultrasound-guided venous access increases the probability of successful catheter placement and reduces the risk of complications, the need for multiple catheter placement attempts, and the time required for the procedure. The advantage appears most pronounced for the jugular vein, whereas the evidence is scarce for the subclavian and femoral vein [110, 111]. Subsequent large randomized trials have confirmed the superiority of ultrasound guidance [112, 113]. The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guideline for vascular access also recommends using ultrasound-assisted insertion [104].

A postprocedural chest radiograph is conventionally performed to confirm the correct position of the catheter and to assess for potential complications. Although this procedure has been debated after uneventful placement of a central venous catheter, the high blood flows used during RRT and the administration of anticoagulants necessitate confirming the correct position before initiating dialysis therapy [104]. For detailed instructions on catheter care, the reader is referred to published guidelines [104, 105, 108, 109]. These guidelines also recommend not using dialysis catheters for applications other than RRT, except under emergency circumstances [105]. The Centers for Disease Control, the National Health Service, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines strongly recommend against routinely using antibiotic lock solutions in the central venous catheter, because of their potential to promote fungal infections, antimicrobial resistance, and systemic toxicity [105, 108, 109].

A recent meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials or quasi-RCTs in 1,100 patients could not establish any advantage for biocompatible or high-flux membranes [114]. Of note, the authors chose to include modified cellulose membranes in the bioincompatible group, although other investigators consider modified cellulosic membranes to be biocompatible. When comparing the synthetic membranes with cuprophane, there was a trend towards reduced mortality with the synthetic membranes. This meta-analysis also did not assess the side effects of different membrane compositions on more proximal, temporal associations, such as acute hypotension or fever. As a result, the Work Group agrees with the authors' conclusion that the use of either a biocompatible or modified cellulose acetate membrane appears to be appropriate.

  1. F9:

    We suggest initiating RRT in patients with AKI via an uncuffed nontunneled dialysis catheter, rather than a tunneled catheter (Grade 2D)

  2. F10:

    When choosing a vein for insertion of a dialysis catheter in patients with AKI, consider these preferences (not graded):

    • first choice: right jugular vein;

    • second choice: femoral vein;

    • third choice: left jugular vein;

    • last choice: subclavian vein with preference for the dominant side

  3. F11:

    We recommend using ultrasound guidance for dialysis catheter insertion (Grade 1A)

  4. F12:

    We recommend obtaining a chest radiograph promptly after placement and before first use of an internal jugular or subclavian dialysis catheter (Grade 1B)

  5. F13:

    We suggest not using topical antibiotics over the skin insertion site of a nontunneled dialysis catheter in ICU patients with AKI requiring RRT (Grade 2C)

  6. F14:

    We suggest not using antibiotic locks for prevention of catheter-related infections ofnontunneled dialysis catheters in AKI requiring RRT (Grade 2C)

  7. F15:

    We suggest using dialyzers with a biocompatible membrane for IHD and CRRT in patients with AKI (Grade 2C)

Modality of RRT for AKI

Several RCTs have compared CRRT with IHD in AKI patients. The most inclusive meta-analysis was performed by the Cochrane Collaboration, analyzing 15 RCTs in 1,550 AKI patients. This analysis concluded that outcomes were not different for critically ill AKI patients treated with CRRT versus IHD for hospital mortality, ICU mortality, length of hospitalization, and renal recovery (free of dialysis on discharge) in survivors [115]. Comparable results have been reported by other meta-analyses [116, 117]. Most trials excluded patients with hypotension or maximized efforts to improve the hemodynamic tolerance of IHD. The high rate of crossover between the treatment modalities also complicates the interpretation of the results.

Many clinicians prefer CRRT in critically ill AKI patients with severe hemodynamic instability, because of better hemodynamic tolerance due to the slower fluid removal and the absence of fluid shifts induced by rapid solute removal. The Cochrane meta-analysis, however, could not establish a difference in the number of patients with hemodynamic instability (however defined) or with hypotension. On the contrary, the mean arterial pressure at the end of the treatment was significantly higher with CRRT than with IHD and the number of patients requiring escalation of vasopressor therapy was significantly lower with CRRT compared with IHD [115].

Slow low-efficiency dialysis has been proposed as an alternative to other forms of RRT and is used in many centers worldwide for logistical reasons. A recent review summarizes the results obtained with slow low-efficiency dialysis in several studies and discusses in detail the technical aspects of this dialysis method [118]. However, randomized trials comparing IHD with slow low-efficiency dialysis have not been performed. Also, clinical experience is far more limited with slow low-efficiency dialysis compared with CRRT, and very few randomized studies have compared slow low-efficiency dialysis to CRRT.

In a patient with acute brain injury, IHD may worsen neurological status by compromising cerebral perfusion pressure. This may be the result of a decrease of mean arterial pressure (dialysis-induced hypotension) or an increase of cerebral edema and intracranial pressure (dialysis disequilibrium), and may jeopardize the potential for neurologic recovery. Dialysis disequilibrium results from the rapid removal of solutes, resulting in intracellular fluid shifts. Both hypotension and disequilibrium can be avoided by the slow progressive removal of fluids and solutes that occurs during CRRT [119]. Small observational trials and case reports in patients with intracranial pressure monitoring indeed reported increases in intracranial pressure with IHD [120, 121]. Using computed tomography scans to measure brain density, Ronco and colleagues [122] showed an increase of brain water content after IHD whereas no such changes were observed after CRRT.

  1. F16:

    Use continuous and intermittent RRT as complementary therapies in AKI patients (not graded)

  2. F17:

    We suggest using CRRT, rather than standard intermittent RRT, for hemodynamically unstable patients (Grade 2B)

  3. F18:

    We suggest using CRRT, rather than intermittent RRT, for AKI patients with acute brain injury or other causes of increased intracranial pressure or generalized brain edema (Grade 2B)

Dialysate and replacement fluid

Use of bicarbonate as a buffer in the dialysate or replacement fluid of AKI patients results in better correction of acidosis, lower lactate levels, and improved hemodynamic tolerance [123, 124]. These effects are most pronounced in patients with circulatory problems and in those with liver dysfunction. An international quality standard for dialysis fluid is in preparation by the International Society for Standardization. Until international standards are in place, we recommend that dialysis fluids and replacement fluids in patients with AKI, at a minimum, comply with American Association of Medical Instrumentation standards for bacteria and endotoxins [125–127]. When local standards exceed American Association of Medical Instrumentation standards, local standards should be followed.

  1. F19:

    We suggest using bicarbonate, rather than lactate, as a buffer in dialysate and replacement fluid for RRT in patients with AKI (Grade 2C)

  2. F20:

    We recommend using bicarbonate, rather than lactate, as a buffer in dialysate and replacement fluid for RRT in patients with AKI and circulatory shock (Grade 1B)

  3. F21:

    We suggest using bicarbonate, rather than lactate, as a buffer in dialysate and replacement fluid for RRT in patients with AKI and liver failure and/or lactic acidemia (Grade 2B)

  4. F22:

    We recommend that dialysis fluids and replacement fluids in patients with AKI, at a minimum, comply with American Association of Medical Instrumentation standards regarding contamination with bacteria and endotoxins (Grade 1B)

Intensity of RRT

Several clinical investigations have shown that the actual delivered dose of RRT in AKI patients is frequently smaller than the prescribed dose, and is even smaller than the recommended minimum for chronic kidney disease patients [128–132]. Impediments to adequate dose delivery were hemodynamic instability, patient size, access problems, technical problems, need for patient transportation, and early filter clotting. In determining a prescription of RRT it is mandatory to consider parameters other than small-solute clearance, such as patients' fluid balance, acid-base and electrolyte homeostasis, and nutrition, among others, as possible components of an optimal RRT dose. In fact, positive fluid balance appears to be an independent risk factor for mortality in AKI patients [133].

There are only two adequately designed and executed RCTs testing intermittent or extended RRT doses in AKI [64, 134]. Neither study showed improvement in mortality or renal recovery when the dialysis dose was increased, either by increasing the clearance × time/volume (Kt/V) ratio above 3.9 weekly or by achieving a plasma urea target below 90 mg/dl (15 mmol/l) in AKI patients. Consistent with data on the dose of IHD in chronic kidney disease [135] and consistent with the lower-dose arm in the Acute Renal Failure Trial Network study [64], however, we recommend a thrice-weekly Kt/V ratio of 1.3 or a weekly Kt/V ratio of 3.9 for IHD in AKI. Similarly, there are now consistent data from two large multicenter trials showing no benefits of increasing CRRT doses in AKI patients above effluent flows of 20 to 25 ml/kg/hour [63, 64]. In clinical practice, in order to achieve a delivered dose of 20 to 25 ml/kg/hour, it is generally necessary to prescribe in the range of 25 to 30 ml/kg/hour and to minimize interruptions in CRRT.

  1. F23:

    The dose of RRT to be delivered should be prescribed before starting each session of RRT (not graded). We recommend frequent assessment of the actual delivered dose in order to adjust the prescription (Grade 1B)

  2. F24:

    Provide RRT to achieve the goals of electrolyte, acid-base, solute, and fluid balance that will meet the patient's needs (not graded)

  3. F25:

    We recommend delivering a Kt/V ratio of 3.9 per week when using intermittent or extended RRT in AKI (Grade 1A)

  4. F26:

    We recommend delivering an effluent volume of 20 to 25 ml/kg/hour for CRRT in AKI (Grade 1A). This will usually require a higher prescription of effluent volume (not graded)

Authors' information

NL is Emeritus Professor of Medicine and former Chief of the Renal Division at the University Hospital of Ghent. JAK is Professor of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine, Bioengineering and Clinical and Translational Science, and Vice Chair for Research within the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the Director of the Program on Bioengineering and Organ Support for the Clinical Research Investigation and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness Center at the University of Pittsburgh.