Effectiveness of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration for patients with refractory heart failure

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) was carried out in 8 patients with refractory congestive heart failure. All these patients had heart failure and oliguria for over 24 hours and intensive treatment with digitalis, diuretics, catecholamines and vasodilators was prescribed. Hemodynamics were followed closely during CAVH. During CAVH, pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were significantly reduced in all patients, the right atrial pressure decreased in 6 with right cardiac failure, the heart rate decreased in 3 with tachycardia and the blood pressure and cardiac index were elevated in 3 with hypotension. These observations show that CAVH can be performed safely and effectively in patients with congestive heart failure, oliguria and hypotension.