title: [Treatment of acute renal failure in Germany: a structural analysis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are no reliable data on the structure and practice of the care of critically ill patients with acute renal failure in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a detailed survey by sending a questionnaire to 2265 German Intensive Care Units. The questionnaire contained 19 questions regarding renal replacement therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  423 German intensive care units participated in the survey. Most of the ICUs are headed interdisciplinary (47%) or by anesthesiologists (30%), with significant differences depending on the size of the clinic, with primarily interdisciplinary management in smaller clinics. The offered type of renal replacement therapy varies significantly, the smaller the house the fewer methods are available. Thus, intermittent dialysis procedures are offered only in 35% of hospitals with up to 400 beds. The indication for the initiation of acute renal replacement therapy in intensive care is provided predominantly (53%) by an anesthesiologist. A nephrologist is only involved in 22% of all intensive care units. The indication is based primarily on a "clinical criteria", but these are poorly defined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the need for cross-disciplinary standards for the treatment of acute renal failure in German intensive care units.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik m.S. Nephrologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Klinische Studien, Paul-Martini-FG Klinische Sepsisforschung; Klinik für Anästhesiologie, und Intensivtherapie, Universitätsklinikum Jena.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hutagalung
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik m.S. Nephrologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jörres
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 4, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Nürnberg-Süd.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Anästhesie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Quintel
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Klinische Studien, Paul-Martini-FG Klinische Sepsisforschung; Klinik für Anästhesiologie, und Intensivtherapie, Universitätsklinikum Jena.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brunkhorst
authors.affiliation: Nephrologie und Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Städtisches Klinikum Solingen.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heering
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009398:Nephrology / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires