A novel regional citrate anticoagulation protocol for CRRT using only commercially available solutions.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a citrate regional anticoagulation (CRA) protocol for patients with acute renal failure and contraindications to heparin who require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), using only commercially available solutions, for units that do not want or cannot prepare extemporaneously made solutions.


METHODS
Case report and series from a medical/surgical intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. A CRA protocol was developed by using only commercially available solutions. Five dialysis-specific clinical parameters were identified to allow simplified measurement and control.


RESULTS
There was a dramatic improvement of dialysis filter survival in the index patient that was seen in the subsequent patients receiving CRA. This was accompanied by excellent control of the clinical and biochemical parameters as well as nursing acceptance and ownership of the protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to provide safe and effective CRA with only commercially available solutions. The protocol is applicable to most patients requiring CRRT.
Tobe
Sheldon W
SW
Division of Nephrology, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Aujla
Prince
P
Walele
Aziz A
AA
Oliver
Matthew J
MJ
Naimark
David M J
DM
Perkins
Nancy J
NJ
Beardsall
Marianne
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017583:Hemodiafiltration / Q000379:methods; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy
D000925:Anticoagulants; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; C002113:acid citrate dextrose; D019343:Citric Acid; D006493:Heparin; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium