Renal Replacement Therapy Strategy Research Articles

Differential effect on mortality of the timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy according to the criteria used to diagnose acute kidney injury: an IDEAL-ICU substudy

BackgroundThis substudy of the randomized IDEAL-ICU trial assessed whether the timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation has a differential effect on 90-day mortality, according to the criteria used to diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI), in patients with early-stage septic shock.MethodsThree groups were considered according to the criterion defining AKI: creatinine elevation only (group 1), reduced urinary output only (group 2), creatinine elevation plus reduced urinary output (group 3). Primary outcome was 90-day all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were RRT-free days, RRT dependence and renal function at discharge. We assessed the interaction between RRT strategy (early vs. delayed) and group, and the association between RRT strategy and mortality in each group by logistic regression.ResultsOf 488 patients enrolled, 205 (42%) patients were in group 1, 174 (35%) in group 2, and 100 (20%) in group 3. The effect of RRT initiation strategy on 90-day mortality across groups showed significant heterogeneity (adjusted interaction p = 0.021). Mortality was 58% vs. 42% for early vs. late RRT initiation, respectively, in group 1 (p = 0.028); 57% vs. 67%, respectively, in group 2 (p = 0.18); and 58% vs. 55%, respectively, in group 3 (p = 0.79). There was no significant difference in secondary outcomes.ConclusionThe timing of RRT initiation has a differential impact on outcome according to AKI diagnostic criteria. In patients with elevated creatinine only, early RRT initiation was associated with significantly increased mortality. In patients with reduced urine output only, late RRT initiation was associated with a nonsignificant, 10% absolute increase in mortality.

Study of some physiological parameters in renal failure patients

Renal failure refers to a condition where the kidneys lose their normal functionality. Dialysis is one of the most common strategy of renal replacement therapy . The aims of the study is to study of some physiological paramerters in patients with renal failure before and after dialysis and compared the results with healthy people. ( 134 ) patients were taken for this study, 94 patients undergoing hemodialysis, 52 males and 42 females,40 patients undergoing peritonial dialysis,24 males and 16 females .The subjects of control group were 57 individuals 29 males and 28 females.The present results showed that there is significant increase (P < 0.01) in urea , creatinine and aldosterone in males,female hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients compared to control .While there were significant decrease (P < 0.01) in total protein ,calcium , erythropoietin and phagocytic activity compared to control but there was no significant difference between before and after dialysis.

EARLY INITIATION OF RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS WITH BOTH ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME AND SEPSIS WITH OR WITHOUT RENAL FAILURE: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY BASED ON PROPENSITY SCORE MATCHING.

Background: It is unknown whether early renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation strategy in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with both acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis with or without renal failure is clinically beneficial. Patients and methods: A total of 818 patients with both ARDS and sepsis admitted to the ICU of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were included in the analysis. Early RRT was defined as initiating the RRT strategy within 24 h of admission. The relationship between early RRT and clinical outcomes, including primary (30-day mortality) and secondary (90-day mortality, serum creatinine, Pa o2 /Fi o2 , duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, cumulative fluid output, and cumulative fluid balance) outcomes, was compared using propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 277 patients (33.9% of the total population) underwent an early RRT initiation strategy before PSM. After PSM, a cohort of 147 patients with early RRT and 147 patients without early RRT with matched baseline characteristics (including serum creatinine at admission) were constructed. Early RRT was not significantly associated with 30- (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.85; P = 0.258) or 90-day mortality (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.91-1.87, P = 0.150). At each time point within 72 h after admission, there was no significant difference in serum creatinine, Pa o2 /Fi o2 and duration of mechanical ventilation between the early and the no early RRT groups. Early RRT significantly increased total output at all time points within 72 h of admission and reached a statistically significant negative fluid balance at 48 h. Conclusions: Early RRT initiation strategies had no statistically significant survival benefit in ICU patients with both ARDS and sepsis, with or without renal failure, nor did they significantly improve serum creatinine and oxygenation or shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation. The use and timing of RRT in such patients should be thoroughly investigated.

Timely renal replacement therapy linked to better outcome in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that acute kidney injury (AKI) can be treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT). However, its benefits to patients with sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI), which is linked to high mortality and morbidity rates, remain under debate. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of different RRT strategies for patients with SA-AKI. MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated patients who were admitted to the hospital with sepsis and developed SA-AKI during hospitalization from 1st January 2014 to 31st January 2019. Mortality, renal recovery, and systemic organ function at 90 days following admission were compared between the RRT group (RG) and non-RRT group (NRG), as well as the early-RRT group (EG) and delayed-RRT group (DG). The groups were defined according to the time from admission to RRT initiation (criterion 1, EG1 and DG1) and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification (criterion 2, EG2 and DG2). Categorical and continuous variables were compared using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to determine the unadjusted survival rates for the different subgroups. ResultsA total of 116 patients were included in this study; of those, 38 received RRT and 46 expired within 90 days. Among different strategies of RRT, there were no significant differences found in 90-day mortality (RG vs. NRG: χ2=0.610, P=0.435; EG1 vs. DG1: χ2 =0.835, P=0.360; EG2 vs. DG2: χ2=0.022, P=0.899) and renal recovery. However, the values of change in sequential organ failure assessment (ΔSOFA)max–min of patients in the EG and RG were significantly higher than those recorded in the NRG (ΔSOFARG=7.0, ΔSOFANRG=3.60, ΔSOFAEG1=9.00, ΔSOFAEG2=6.30; P<0.050). Also, the 90-day renal recovery in the EG was better than that noted in the DG with criterion 1 (87.5% vs. 38.5%, respectively, χ2=10.425, P=0.032), suggesting that RRT (especially timely RRT) may be beneficial to the restoration of systemic organ function in patients with SA-AKI. ConclusionRRT did not reduce the 90-day mortality among patients with SA-AKI. However, timely RRT may benefit the restoration of systemic organ function, thereby improving the quality of life of patients.

MO363: Target Trial Emulation on Timing of Start of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury: Lessons Learned

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Routinely collected data (RCD) are readily available at most ICUs. Their secondary analysis is expected to improve medical decision-making by providing expedited answers to clinical questions that would otherwise require conducting costly and less generalizable RCTs. However, doubts remain whether RCD can produce sound answers to comparative effectiveness questions. Trial emulation studies based on RCD closely mimic trial protocols, limit the risk of avoidable biases and could therefore be a powerful tool to expand our evidence base on patient management. We assess whether such an emulation of the ELAIN trial[1] can replicate results of this landmark study comparing timing strategies for initiating renal replacement therapy (RRT) in ICU patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). METHOD Using serum creatinine and urine output measures, we identified patients admitted to the Ghent University Hospital ICUs (2013–2017) who developed KDIGO stage 2 AKI. Other eligibility criteria from the ELAIN trial available from our linked databases were applied to obtain a final sample that matches the trial population. Based on time from study inclusion to RRT and/or progression to stage 3 AKI or reaching an absolute indication for RRT, we identified patients with a treatment history compatible with assignment either to the early RRT arm, the delayed RRT arm, or both. To avoid immortal time bias, patients who died or were discharged without RRT within the grace period for initiating RRT were also considered compatible with the respective RRT strategies. To avoid selection bias, more weight was given to compatible patients less likely to remain compatible through follow-up (inverse probability weighting). The number of patients receiving RRT and ICU mortality were compared between RRT groups (ad hoc approach) and emulated trial arms (emulation approach). RESULTS Finally, 2756 out of 16 434 patients (16.8%) would have been eligible for the ELAIN trial (Fig. 1). Of these, 2565 (93.1%) did not receive RRT at any time (Fig. 1: bottom, white boxes); 9.6% and 1.7% of patients compatible with assignment to early and delayed RRT, respectively, actually received RRT (Fig. 1: bottom, grey boxes). The majority of patients were discharged without RRT, did not progress to stage 3 AKI or did not reach an absolute indication for RRT. In contrast to the ELAIN trial, there was no evidence that early (versus delayed) RRT reduces mortality, neither using the ad hoc approach (59 versus 51%), or the emulation approach (6.4 versus 8%) (Fig. 2). Furthermore, mortality was comparable to that observed in the ELAIN trial using the ad hoc approach in the delayed arm but was &amp;gt;5 times lower using the emulation approach. CONCLUSION Our observational emulation of the ELAIN trial did not reproduce certain key aspects of the benchmark trial. In each of the emulated trial arms &amp;lt;10% of patients received RRT. Along with the much lower mortality (compared with the ELAIN trial), this may in part be due to too broad patient inclusion into the emulation, e.g. because of failure to emulate eligibility criteria unavailable in RCD or an implicit application of undocumented selection criteria in the ELAIN trial. Considering ICU mortality only in patients who did receive RRT (ad hoc approach) may conceal these discrepancies and lead to a false sense of comparability in terms of baseline risk. Although our bias corrections may better signal this issue, final mortality estimates cannot directly be compared head-to-head due to unadjusted confounding. In sum, emulation of even basic protocol components such as eligibility criteria and allocation to treatment strategies can be cumbersome if the available RCD does not contain sufficient information. Future emulations may therefore need to consider careful selection of available proxies of unavailable eligibility criteria and need to rely on adequate adjustment for confounding.

MO696INCREMENTAL PERITONEAL DIALYSIS: BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

Abstract Background and Aims Incremental peritoneal dialysis (Incr_Dial) is a renal replacement therapy strategy based on lower dose prescription rather than the standard “full dose” (Full_Dial). Individualized clearance goals were achieved combining residual renal function (RRF) and peritoneal clearance. Maintaining RRF is a crucial issue to peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and the best PD strategy to preserve it is subject to debate. The aim of this study is to compare Incr_Dial and Full_Dial in terms of RRF preservation and other clinical outcomes. Method This was a single-center, retrospective descriptive study. We included a cohort of incident and prevalent adult PD patients in the PD Unit between January – December of 2020. Patients without a follow-up &amp;lt; six months and who started PD at another center were excluded. Patients were assigned according to their first PD protocol in two groups – Group A: Incr_Dial protocol (continuous ambulatory PD: less than four dwells daily, less than 2 L dwell volumes, less than seven days a week treatment, or some combination of these; automated PD: without a long dwell, less than 10 L daily delivered by cycler and day dwells, treatment for less than 7 days a week or some combination of these); Group B: Full_Dial protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0. Statistical significance level p &amp;lt;0.05. Results Among 84 PD patients, 68% underwent incremental PD (Group A) and 31% underwent conventional full-dose PD (Group B). The mean age was 55.9±15.4 years, 60.7% were male and 32.5% diabetic. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding: demographic characteristics, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, cardiac insufficiency or ischemic heart disease) and drugs (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and/or loop diuretics). The median Incr_Dial duration to achieve PD full dose was 10.2 months (IQ 5.1-17). At the beginning of PD, there was no statistically significant difference in diuresis between both groups (A: 1.79L vs B: 1.2L, p=0.07), however after 6 months of PD there was a superior urinary output in Group A (A: 1.67L vs B: 1.1L, p=0.037). Group A (Incr_Dial) was also associated with a superior renal clearance of creatinine at the beginning (A: 81 L/sem/1.73m2 vs B: 56.8L/sem/1.73m2, p=0.021) and after 12 months (A: 70.7L/sem/1.73m2 vs B: 26.3 L/sem/1.73m2, p&amp;lt;0.01); and superior Kt/V renal/week at the beginning (A: 1.48 vs B: 1.02, p=0.02) and after 12 months (A: 1.28 vs B: 0.49, p&amp;lt;0.001). There are no differences between mortality (A: 1.9% vs B: 12%, p=0.094), peritonitis-free time (A: 158 days vs B: 236 days, p=0.133) and the numbers of peritonitis per year (A: 0.32 vs B: 0.5, p=0.940). However, the rate of hospital admissions per year was lower in Group A (A: 0.22 vs B: 0.70, p=0.001). Conclusion Incremental PD is a safe strategy of renal replacement therapy to start PD. In our PD population, it showed similar patient survival rates and a significantly less hospital admissions. Incremental PD was also beneficial for preserving RRF when compared to full-dose PD.

Comparison of different anticoagulation strategies for renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a cohort study

BackgroundCritically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have a high risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) that requires renal replacement therapy (RRT). A state of hypercoagulability reduces circuit life spans. To maintain circuit patency and therapeutic efficiency, an optimized anticoagulation strategy is needed. This study investigates whether alternative anticoagulation strategies for RRT during COVID-19 are superior to administration of unfractionated heparin (UFH).MethodsRetrospective cohort study on 71 critically ill COVID-19 patients (≥18 years), admitted to intensive care units at a tertiary health care facility in the southwestern part of Germany between February 26 and May 21, 2020. We collected data on the disease course, AKI, RRT, and thromboembolic events. Four different anticoagulatory regimens were administered. Anticoagulation during continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) was performed with UFH or citrate. Anticoagulation during sustained low-efficiency daily dialysis (SLEDD) was performed with UFH, argatroban, or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Primary outcome is the effect of the anticoagulation regimen on mean treatment times of RRT.ResultsIn patients receiving CVVHD, mean treatment time in the UFH group was 21.3 h (SEM: ±5.6 h), in the citrate group 45.6 h (SEM: ±2.7 h). Citrate anticoagulation significantly prolonged treatment times by 24.4 h (P = .001). In patients receiving SLEDD, mean treatment time with UFH was 8.1 h (SEM: ±1.3 h), with argatroban 8.0 h (SEM: ±0.9 h), and with LMWH 11.8 h (SEM: ±0.5 h). LMWH significantly prolonged treatment times by 3.7 h (P = .008) and 3.8 h (P = .002), respectively.ConclusionsUFH fails to prevent early clotting events in the dialysis circuit during COVID-19. For patients, who do not require effective systemic anticoagulation, regional citrate dialysis is the most effective strategy. For patients, who require effective systemic anticoagulation, the usage of LMWH results in the longest circuit life spans. The proposed anticoagulatory strategies are safe, can easily be monitored, and allow an individualized treatment.Graphical abstract

Timing of Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a major issue in medical, surgical and intensive care settings and is an independent risk factor for increased mortality, as well as hospital length of stay and cost. SA-AKI encompasses a proper pathophysiology where renal and systemic inflammation play an essential role, surpassing the classic concept of acute tubular necrosis. No specific treatment has been defined yet, and renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains the cornerstone supportive therapy for the most severe cases. The timing to start RRT, however, remains controversial, with early and late strategies providing conflicting results. This article provides a comprehensive review on the available evidence on the timing to start RRT in patients with SA-AKI.

Timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy in acute kidney injury: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Purpose The results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning the timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) are still inconsistent. Materials and methods We searched for RCTs, as well as relevant references, focusing on the timing of RRT for AKI patients in the Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and Chinese databases from their inception to December 2018. Results We included 18 RCTs from 1997 to 2018 involving 2856 patients. Pooled analyses of all RCTs showed no significant difference in mortality between early initiation and delayed initiation of RRT (RR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.08, p = .7) (I 2 = 2%), and similar results were found in critically ill and community-acquired AKI patients, as well as in a subgroup of patients with sepsis and in cardiac surgery recipients. There was also no difference in the incidence of dialysis independence (RR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.2, p = .2) (I 2 = 0). However, an early RRT strategy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of the need for RRT for AKI patients (RR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.36, p < .01) (I 2 = 34%). Conclusions As no life-threatening complications occurred, there was no evidence to show any benefit of an early RRT strategy for critically ill or community-acquired AKI patients; in contrast, a delayed strategy might avert the need for RRT.

Effects of early dialysis on the outcomes of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The appropriate timing for initiating renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unknown. This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of early initiation of RRT in critically ill patients with AKI. The Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched up to August 13, 2019. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of early and late RRT on AKI patients were included. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Eleven RCTs including 1131 and 1111 AKI patients assigned to early and late RRT strategies, respectively, were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The pooled 28-day mortality was 38.1% (431/1131) and 40.7% (453/1111) in the patients assigned to early and late RRT, respectively, with no significant difference between groups (risk ratio (RR), 0.95; 95% CI, 0.78–1.15, I2 = 63%). No significant difference was found between groups in terms of RRT dependence in survivors on day 28 (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.67–1.25, I2 = 0%), and recovery of renal function (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.89–1.19, I2 = 56%). The early RRT group had higher risks of catheter-related infection (RR, 1.7, 95% CI, 1.01–2.97, I2 = 0%) and hypophosphatemia (RR, 2.5, 95% CI, 1.25–4.99, I2 = 77%) than the late RRT group. In conclusion, an early RRT strategy does not improve survival, RRT dependence, or renal function recovery in critically ill patients with AKI in comparison with a late RRT strategy. However, clinicians should be vigilant because early RRT can carry higher risks of catheter-related infection and hypophosphatemia during dialysis than late RRT.

The Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury 2 (AKIKI2): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury (AKIKI) trial showed that a delayed renal replacement therapy (RRT) strategy for severe acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients was safe and associated with major reduction in RRT initiation compared with an early strategy. The five criteria which mandated RRT initiation in the delayed arm were: severe hyperkalemia, severe acidosis, acute pulmonary edema due to fluid overload resulting in severe hypoxemia, serum urea concentration > 40 mmol/l and oliguria/anuria > 72 h. However, duration of anuria/oliguria and level of blood urea are still criteria open to debate. The objective of the study is to compare the delayed strategy used in AKIKI (now termed “standard”) with another in which RRT is further delayed for a longer period (termed “delayed strategy”).Methods/designThis is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, two-arm randomized trial. The study is composed of two stages (observational and randomization stages). At any time, the occurrence of a potentially severe condition (severe hyperkalemia, severe metabolic or mixed acidosis, acute pulmonary edema due to fluid overload resulting in severe hypoxemia) suggests immediate RRT initiation.Patients receiving (or who have received) intravenously administered catecholamines and/or invasive mechanical ventilation and presenting with AKI stage 3 of the KDIGO classification and with no potentially severe condition are included in the observational stage. Patients presenting a serum urea concentration > 40 mmol/l and/or an oliguria/anuria for more than 72 h are randomly allocated to a standard (RRT is initiated within 12 h) or a delayed RRT strategy (RRT is initiated only if an above-mentioned potentially severe condition occurs or if the serum urea concentration reaches 50 mmol/l).The primary outcome will be the number of RRT-free days at day 28.One interim analysis is planned. It is expected to include 810 patients in the observational stage and to randomize 270 subjects.DiscussionThe AKIKI2 study should improve the knowledge of RRT initiation criteria in critically ill patients. The potential reduction in RRT use allowed by a delayed RRT strategy might be associated with less invasive care and decreased costs. Enrollment is ongoing. Inclusions are expected to be completed by November 2019.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03396757. Registered on 11 January 2018.

Preemptive renal replacement therapy in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock patients: a historically controlled cohort study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the preemptive renal replacement therapy (RRT) might improve outcomes in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) patients. In Period A (September 2014-April 2016), patients with PCCS received RRT, depending on conventional indications or bedside attendings. In Period B (May 2016-November 2017), the preemptive RRT strategy was implemented in all PCCS patients in our intensive care unit. The goal-directed RRT was applied for the RRT patients. The hospital mortality and renal recovery were compared between the two periods. A total of 155 patients (76 patients in Period A and 79 patients in Period B) were ultimately enrolled in this study. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and intraoperative and postoperative parameters between the two groups. The duration between surgery and RRT initiation was significantly shorter in Period B than in Period A [23 (17, 66) vs. 47 (20, 127) h, P<0.01]. The hospital mortality in Period B was significantly lower than that in Period A (38.0% vs. 59.2%, P<0.01). There were fewer patients with no renal recovery in Period B (4.1% vs. 19.4%, P=0.026). Patients in Period B displayed a significantly shorter time to completely renal recovery (12±15 vs. 25±15 d, P<0.05). Among PCCS patients, preemptive RRT compared with conventional initiation of RRT reduced mortality in hospital and also led to faster and more frequent recovery of renal function. Our preliminary study supposed that preemptive initiation of RRT might be an effective approach to PCCS with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Timing of Renal Replacement Therapy for Severe Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects many ICU patients and is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. Although lifesaving in many situations, renal replacement therapy (RRT) may be associated with complications, and the appropriate timing of its initiation is still the subject of intense debate. An early initiation strategy can prevent some metabolic complications, whereas a delayed one may allow for renal function recovery in some patients without need for this costly and potentially dangerous technique. For years, most of the knowledge on this issue stemmed from observational studies or small randomized controlled trials. Recent randomized controlled trials have indicated that a watchful waiting strategy (in the absence of life-threatening conditions such as severe hyperkalemia or pulmonary edema) during severe AKI allowed many patients to escape RRT and did not seem to adversely affect survival compared with a strategy of immediate RRT. In addition, data suggest that a delayed strategy may reduce the rate of complications (such as catheter infection) and favor renal function recovery. Ongoing studies will have to both confirm these conclusions and clarify to what extent the delay in initiating RRT can be prolonged. Pending those results, the bulk of evidence suggests that, in the absence of potential severe complications of AKI, delaying RRT is a valid and safe strategy that may also allow for considerable cost savings.

The efficacy of renal replacement therapy strategies for septic-acute kidney injury: A PRISMA-compliant network meta-analysis.

Background:Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is the main treatment for patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SAKI). However, the choice of RRT strategy remains controversial.Objective:This study assessed the effectiveness of RRT variants in SAKI patients by a network meta-analysis.Methods:This study searched the literature in the PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane Library databases up to August 18, 2018. The outcomes of the analysis were the survival rate, renal recovery rate, intensive care unit (ICU) duration, and hospital duration.Results:Twenty-two articles were included in the analysis. The results showed that only the negative control was inferior to the regimens of RRT with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMXF), PMXF alone, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), CVVH plus alkaline phosphatase (AP), continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), high-volume CVVH, and extra high-volume CVVH in terms of the survival rate. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking , RRT with PMXF (84.4%) and PMXF (84.3%) were the treatments most likely to improve the survival rate among SAKI patients, followed by CVVH plus AP (69%). Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), extra high-volume CVVHDF, intermittent venovenous hemodiafiltration (IVVHDF), and low-volume CVVHDF resulted in very similar survival rates. CVVH plus AP conferred relative advantages in the renal recovery rate and ICU duration.Conclusion:CVVH, CVVHD, and their derived RRT strategies can improve survival rates in SAKI patients, but there is no significant difference among the RRT strategies. There was also no significant difference in the survival rate among CVVHDF, IVVHDF, and their derived strategies. More high-quality randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed for further research.

Effects of Baseline Thrombocytopenia and Platelet Decrease Following Renal Replacement Therapy Initiation in Patients With Severe Acute Kidney Injury*

Thrombocytopenia is common in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury and may be worsened by the use of renal replacement therapy. In this study, we evaluate the effects of renal replacement therapy on subsequent platelet values, the prognostic significance of a decrease in platelets, and potential risk factors for platelet decreases. Post hoc analysis of the Acute Renal Failure Trial Network Study. The Acute Renal Failure Trial Network study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial of two strategies for renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury conducted between November 2003 and July 2007 at 27 Veterans Affairs and university-affiliated medical centers. The Acute Renal Failure Trial Network study evaluated 1,124 patients with severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. Predictor variables were thrombocytopenia at initiation of renal replacement therapy and platelet decrease following renal replacement therapy initiation. Outcomes were mortality at 28 days, 60 days, and 1 year, renal recovery, renal replacement therapy free days, ICU-free days, and hospital-free days. Baseline thrombocytopenia in patients requiring renal replacement therapy was associated with increased mortality and was also associated with lower rates of renal recovery. A decrease in platelet values following renal replacement therapy initiation was associated with increased mortality. Continuous renal replacement therapy was not an independent predictor of worsening thrombocytopenia compared with those treated with intermittent hemodialysis. Baseline thrombocytopenia and platelet decrease following renal replacement therapy initiation were associated with increased mortality, and baseline thrombocytopenia was associated with decreased rates of renal recovery. Continuous renal replacement therapy did not decrease platelets compared with hemodialysis.

Timing of Renal Support and Outcome of Septic Shock and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A Post Hoc Analysis of the AKIKI Randomized Clinical Trial.

The optimal strategy for initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with severe acute kidney injury in the context of septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is unknown. To examine the effect of an early compared with a delayed RRT initiation strategy on 60-day mortality according to baseline sepsis status, ARDS status, and severity. Post hoc analysis of the AKIKI (Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury) trial. Subgroups were defined according to baseline characteristics: sepsis status (Sepsis-3 definition), ARDS status (Berlin definition), Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3), and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). Of 619 patients, 348 (56%) had septic shock and 207 (33%) had ARDS. We found no significant influence of the baseline sepsis status (P = 0.28), baseline ARDS status (P = 0.94), and baseline severity scores (P = 0.77 and P = 0.46 for SAPS 3 and SOFA, respectively) on the comparison of 60-day mortality according to RRT initiation strategy. A delayed RRT initiation strategy allowed 45% of patients with septic shock and 46% of patients with ARDS to escape RRT. Urine output was higher in the delayed group. Renal function recovery occurred earlier with the delayed RRT strategy in patients with septic shock or ARDS (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). Time to successful extubation in patients with ARDS was not affected by RRT strategy (P = 0.43). Early RRT initiation strategy was not associated with any improvement of 60-day mortality in patients with severe acute kidney injury and septic shock or ARDS. Unnecessary and potentially risky procedures might often be avoided in these fragile populations. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01932190).

Renal Support for Acute Kidney Injury in the Developing World

There is wide variation in the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) and the practice of renal replacement therapy (RRT) around the world. Clinicians in developing countries face additional challenges due to limited resources, reduced availability of trained staff and equipment, cultural and socioeconomic aspects, and administrative and governmental barriers. In this article, we report the consensus recommendations from the 18th Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative conference in Hyderabad, India. We provide the minimal requirements for provision of acute RRT in developing countries, including patient selection, choice of RRT modality and monitoring, transition, and termination of acute RRT. We also discuss areas of uncertainty and propose themes for future research. These recommendations can serve as a foundation for clinicians to implement renal support for AKI in low resource settings.

Renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury

The annual incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been increasing as the population ages. Despite advances in critical care and dialysis technology, the mortality remains unacceptably high in patients with AKI during the past few decades. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is performed to treat patients with severe AKI and multiple organ failures, as well as to remove fluid in patients with fluid overload including those with acute heart failure and lung edema in the intensive care unit (ICU). The mortality in patients with AKI requiring RRT is higher than 50 %. RRT strategies in patients with AKI depend on various conditions. However, there is little consensus on when to start and stop RRT, its optimal dose, and the choice of different RRT modalities (intermittent versus (vs.) continuous) in patients with AKI. Patients with AKI in the ICU are preferentially treated with continuous rather than intermittent RRT (IRRT), usually because of hemodynamic stability and steady of solute clearance. At present, the type and dose of RRT are dependent on the experience of the attending clinicians, including intensivists and nephrologists.

A comparison of preemptive versus standard renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery

BackgroundThe optimal timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether preemptive RRT or standard RRT was associated with hospital mortality in cardiac surgical patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). MethodsData were retrospectively collected from patients who underwent cardiac surgery and experienced postoperative AKI requiring RRT at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from September 1, 2006 to December 31, 2013. The patients were divided into two groups according to the RRT strategy applied. ResultsA total of 213 patients were enrolled in this study; 59 patients were categorized into the preemptive RRT group and 154 into the standard RRT group. The preemptive RRT group exhibited significantly lower mortality (33.90% versus 51.95%, P = 0.018) and time to recovery of renal function than the standard RRT group (15.34 ± 14.46 versus 22.88 ± 14.08 d, P = 0.022). Moreover, the preemptive RRT group showed significantly lower serum creatinine levels and higher proportions of recovery of renal function and weaning from RRT at death or discharge than the standard RRT group. There was no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation, RRT, intensive care unit stay, or hospital stay between the two groups. ConclusionsIn patients after cardiac surgery, preemptive RRT was associated with lower hospital mortality and faster and more frequent recovery of renal function than standard RRT. However, preemptive RRT did not affect other patient-centered outcomes including mechanical ventilation time, RRT time, or length of intensive care unit or hospital stay.

Continuous renal replacement therapy and negative fluid balance improves renal function and prognosis of patients with acute kidney injury in sepsis

To investigate the influence of fluid balance and model of renal replacement therapy (RRT) on renal function and prognosis of patients suffering from septic acute kidney injury (AKI). A retrospective cohort analysis of 117 septic AKI patients who had undergone RRT between January 2009 and December 2014 was performed in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The patients were divided into positive fluid balance group (n = 52) and negative fluid balance group (n = 65) according to the total amount of fluid calculated from the difference between fluid administered and fluid lost during the first 1 week of RRT. The incidence of renal recovery and death of the patients by 60 days as the endpoint events were taken to judge the prognosis of two groups. RRT strategies included continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and intermittent renal replacement therapy (IRRT). Multiple factors including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, RRT model, the accumulation of fluid before initiation of RRT, and negative fluid balance during RRT were analyzed for outcome predictors by Cox proportional hazards model. There were no differences between two groups regarding clinical characteristics. The percentage of receiving CRRT in the negative fluid balance group was slightly higher than that of the positive fluid balance group (52.31% vs. 36.54%, χ² = 2.899, P = 0.089). With Kaplan-Meier survival curves, it was shown that the patients of negative fluid balance group had a higher rate of recovery of renal function (χ² = 4.803, P = 0.028) and significantly lower mortality rate (χ² = 9.505, P = 0.002). The rate of recovery of renal function by 60 days was higher in the negative fluid balance group than that in the positive fluid balance group (47.69% vs. 28.85%, χ² = 3.991, P = 0.046), while the mortality rate was significantly lowered in the negative fluid balance group compared with that of the positive fluid balance group (40.00% vs. 67.31%, χ² = 4.378, P = 0.036). Cox multivariate regression was used for excluding confounding factors. After adjusting for the clinically relevant variables, RRT negative fluid balance was significantly associated with recovery of renal function [ hazard ratios (HR) = 2.440, 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) = 1.089-5.464, P = 0.030] and mortality (HR = 0.443, 95%CI = 0.238-0.822, P = 0.010]. Higher eGFR before RRT and CRRT were independent favorable factors for recovery of renal function (HR = 1.014, 95%CI = 1.003-1.026, P = 0.012; HR = 3.138, 95%CI = 1.765-7.461, P = 0.002), and higher SOFA score was associated with a significantly higher risk of death (HR = 1.115, 95%CI = 1.057-1.177, P < 0.001). Once the patients with septic AKI showed the signs of fluid overload, timely RRT and effective removal of excessive liquid may reverse the adverse prognosis. RRT with negative fluid balance is beneficial for the recovery of renal function, and reduce the mortality in patients with septic AKI, and CRRT model is a good choice.