title: Renal replacement therapy in the critical care unit.
abstract: Acute renal failure is common in critically ill patients. Many intensive care unit patients require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Hemodialysis can be performed as intermittent treatments or as continuous RRT, which can be customized to clinical goals by the use of carefully designed replacement fluids and hemodialysates. The available forms of RRT are reviewed, with emphasis on the clinical indications that contribute to the choice and design of therapy. Practical issues and troubleshooting are discussed, as are available options for anticoagulation during RRT. Consideration is given to modality choice, hemodynamic issues, costs, and physiologic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. Georgechrysochoou@yahoo.com
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chrysochoou
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sureshkumar
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Carlin
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018481:Convection; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004058:Diffusion; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D018579:Patient Selection; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D015314:Dialysis Solutions