[Complications of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration]

Among annually 10 treatments with continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration (CAVH) during the last years there were some individual instances of severe complications: occluding thrombus in the femoral artery, infection at the site where the arterial catheter was inserted and disconnection in the extracorporeal shunt. When choosing the method for compensating renal failure, the possibility of these complications must be considered. Patients who will tolerate intermittent hyperhydration between two dialysis sessions should be treated discontinuously with a technique not-employing arterial cannulation rather than with CAVH.