Comparison of continuous and intermittent renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure.
BACKGROUND
Mortality rates of critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) are high. Intermittent and continuous RRT are available for these patients on the intensive care units (ICUs). It is unknown which technique is superior with respect to patient outcome.


METHODS
We randomized 125 patients to treatment with either continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) or intermittent haemodialysis (IHD) from a total of 191 patients with ARF in a tertiary-care university hospital ICU. The primary end-point was ICU and in-hospital mortality, while recovery of renal function and hospital length of stay were secondary end-points.


RESULTS
During 30 months, no patient escaped randomization for medical reasons. Sixty-six patients were not randomized for non-medical reasons. Of the 125 randomized patients, 70 were treated with CVVHDF and 55 with IHD. The two groups were comparable at the start of RRT with respect to age (62+/-15 vs 62+/-15 years, CVVHDF vs IHD), gender (66 vs 73% male sex), number of failed organ systems (2.4+/-1.5 vs 2.5+/-1.6), Simplified Acute Physiology Scores (57+/-17 vs 58+/-23), septicaemia (43 vs 51%), shock (59 vs 58%) or previous surgery (53 vs 45%). Mortality rates in the hospital (47 vs 51%, CVVHDF vs IHD, P = 0.72) or in the ICU (34 vs 38%, P = 0.71) were independent of the technique of RRT applied. Hospital length of stay in the survivors was comparable in patients on CVVHDF [median (range) 20 (6-71) days, n = 36] and in those on IHD [30 (2-89) days, n = 27, P = 0.25]. The duration of RRT required was the same in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The present investigation provides no evidence for a survival benefit of continuous vs intermittent RRT in ICU patients with ARF.
Uehlinger
Dominik E
DE
Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, University of Berne, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010 Bern-Inselspital, Switzerland. uehlinger@mph.unibe.ch
Jakob
Stephan M
SM
Ferrari
Paolo
P
Eichelberger
Markus
M
Huynh-Do
Uyen
U
Marti
Hans-Peter
HP
Mohaupt
Markus G
MG
Vogt
Bruno
B
Rothen
Hans Ulrich
HU
Regli
Bruno
B
Takala
Jukka
J
Frey
Felix J
FJ
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017583:Hemodiafiltration; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014511:Uremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents