title: Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration. A report of six months' experience.
abstract: Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration using small hollow-fiber hemofilters, without pumps, was used as an alternative to conventional methods of acute dialytic therapy. During a 6-month period, 15 patients had 17 treatments. Mean treatment duration was 98.5 +/- 101.1 (SD) hours (range, 4 to 300 hours), for a total of 1673 hours. Mean output per treatment was 9.5 +/- 4.4 mL/min, which was found to be adequate to control uremia despite a considerable protein intake. Six patients had a significant hemorrhage; however, all 6 had active bleeding and existing coagulopathies before beginning treatment. Overall, continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration was found to be a convenient and safe method for providing continuous fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance in patients with inadequate renal function. The treatment was particularly useful in patients with vascular instability or severe fluid overload.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D001769:Blood; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013396:Suction; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D006493:Heparin