Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Renal Failure

Abstract

Continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRTs) have been developed to enable the critically ill patient with acute renal failure to be treated more effectively. Acute renal failure in the critically ill patient almost always develops in the setting of shock, sepsis, major surgery, and/or major trauma, and is invariably associated with multiorgan dysfunction and/or failure. In addition, these patients usually have hemodynamic and respiratory abnormalities that make conventional intermittent hemodialysis both technically difficult and fraught with many complications. The patient’s fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base status fluctuate widely within a 24-hour period; intermittent dialysis is not suited to these changing circumstances.