Dialytic support in acute renal failure

Acute renal failure is the sudden failure on the part of the kidney to maintain normal biochemical homeostasis in the body. Medical causes of acute renal failure are fluid and electrolyte depletion, infectious diarrhoea, non-diarrhoeal infections, glomerulonephritis, poisoning with heavy metals, G-6-PD deficiency, snake bite and nephrotoxic drugs. Septic abortion is the most common cause of obstetric acute renal failure. Obstructive uropathy is an important cause of surgical acute renal failure. Guidelines to non-dialytic management of acute renal failure depend on the patient's condition which includes volume status, hyperkalaemia, acidaemia, uraemia and whether he/she is receiving medication and having adequate nutrition. Several dialytic methods are currently available for renal replacement therapy--intermittent haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are to name a few. Dialytic intervention in acute renal failure is usually considered when there is dinical evidence of uraemic symptoms or biochemical features of solute and fluid imbalance. Continuous renal replacement therapy implies to continuous replacement of renal function and it is limited to only a few big centres.