Comparison of Sustained Low‐Efficiency Dialysis With Acetate‐Free and Acetate‐Containing Bicarbonate Dialysate in Unstable Patients

Abstract

This work is focused on the problem of maintenance of intradialytic hemodynamic safety in unstable patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). A hypothesis that "small" quantities of acetate in standard bicarbonate dialysate can cause pronounced acetatemia and exacerbate cardiovascular instability was tested. In this prospective randomized study, a group of patients with AKI after cardiac surgery was treated with sustained low-efficiency dialysis with either acetate-containing bicarbonate dialysate or acetate-free dialysate, where acetate is replaced by hydrochloric acid. It was demonstrated that application of acetate-containing bicarbonate dialysate results in blood acetate levels up to 12 times the normal level. Additionally, it is associated with a 3.8-fold-increased risk of hemodynamic complications in comparison with acetate-free dialysate. The choice of acetate-free or acetate-containing bicarbonate dialysate does not influence adequacy of correction of the acid-base and electrolyte content of blood.