title: The provision and practice of renal replacement therapy on adult intensive care units in the United Kingdom.
abstract: This study surveyed the availability and current practice of renal replacement therapy on adult general intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires were returned from 236 units (89%). Renal replacement therapy was provided by 212 (90%) of responding units, treating 9442 patients per year. Renal physicians were involved in the initiation and prescription of treatment in 22 (11%) units. Ninety-one units (43%) had no step down facility on-site for those patients still requiring renal replacement therapy but no longer requiring intensive care. Continuous techniques are used by the majority of units, most commonly, continuous veno-venous haemofiltration, with an ultrafiltration rate of 2000 ml.h-1. Fifty-eight units (28%) use haemofiltration as adjuvant treatment in septic shock. The provision and practice of renal replacement therapy is now an integral part of intensive care medicine in the United Kingdom.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital of North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW, UK. stephenwright@doctors.org.uk
authors: S E
authors: SE
authors: Wright
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bodenham
authors: A I K
authors: AI
authors: Short
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Turney
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom