title: Timing the initiation of renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in Canadian intensive care units: a multicentre observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The optimal timing for starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. Defining current practice is necessary to design interventional trials. We describe the current Canadian practice regarding the timing of RRT initiation for AKI.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study of patients undergoing RRT for AKI was undertaken at 11 intensive care units (ICUs) across Canada. Data were captured on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, indications for RRT, and timing of RRT initiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 119 consecutive patients, the most common ICU admission diagnosis was sepsis/septic shock, occurring in 54%. At the time of RRT initiation, the median and interquartile range (IQR) serum creatinine level was 322 (221-432) μmol·L(-1). The mean (SD) values for other parameters were as follows: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score 13.4 (4.1), pH 7.25 (0.15), potassium 4.6 (1.0) mmol·L(-1). Also, 64% fulfilled the serum creatinine-based criterion for Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) stage 3. Severity of illness, measured using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and SOFA scores, did not correlate with AKI severity as defined by the serum creatinine-based AKIN criteria. Median (IQR) time from hospital and ICU admission to the start of RRT was 2.0 (1.0-7.0) days and 1.0 (0-2.0) day, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients admitted to an ICU who were started on RRT generally had advanced AKI, high-grade illness severity, and multiorgan dysfunction. Also, they were started on RRT shortly after hospital presentation. We describe the current state of practice in Canada regarding the initiation of RRT for AKI in critically ill patients, which can inform the designs of future interventional trials.
authors: Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Clark
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Wald
authors: Adeera
authors: A
authors: Levin
authors: Josée
authors: J
authors: Bouchard
authors: Neill K J
authors: NK
authors: Adhikari
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Hladunewich
authors: Robert M A
authors: RM
authors: Richardson
authors: Matthew T
authors: MT
authors: James
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Walsh
authors: Andrew A
authors: AA
authors: House
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Moist
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Stollery
authors: Karen E A
authors: KE
authors: Burns
authors: Jan O
authors: JO
authors: Friedrich
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Barton
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Lafrance
authors: Neesh
authors: N
authors: Pannu
authors: Sean M
authors: SM
authors: Bagshaw
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine