Hemodynamic consequences of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) is an extracorporeal treatment in which fluid, electrolytes, and low and middle molecular weight solutes are removed from the blood by ultrafiltration. It is efficacious in the management of acute or chronic renal failure complicated by fluid overload, and following surgery. In this study, cardiac filling pressures, cardiac indices, and BP were monitored in nine patients. A mean of 7 kg of fluid was removed in ten treatments without the induction of hypotension. In nine of ten treatments, cardiac index increased following fluid removal. An increment in myocardial pump function was noted even in patients with low output heart failure. This treatment differs from dialysis in its ability to remove large fluid volumes without compromising cardiac hemodynamics. In addition, CAVH may have a role in treating volume overload patients with renal insufficiency and heart failure resistant to pharmacologic intervention.