[Kidney protection therapy in acute limb ischemia]

Acute limb ischaemia is relatively frequent in the population (800:1 million, with about 1000 cases per year in Zachodniopomorskie province) and is a life-threatening condition due to significant mortality (about 15%) and a high percentage of amputation (up to 25%). Early death is mainly caused by metabolic disorders associated with reperfusion syndrome following surgical revascularisation. Muscle injury caused by rhabdomyolysis leads to acute renal failure, cardiopulmonary insufficiency and generalised inflammatory reaction. Prompt treatment according to the current recommendations, including extensive fasciotomy and intensive and early nephroprotective and renal replacement therapy, offers the only chance to reduce early mortality in patients suffering from this disease. Differences in approach to the problem of renal replacement therapy presented by nephrologists/internists and surgeons are frequent and do not improve treatment outcome. The aim of this paper is to establish a standard consensus between the approach of the vascular surgeon, nephrologist and internist to achieve the best possible treatment outcomes in patients with acute limb ischaemia.