Acute renal failure in the intensive care unit--clinical considerations

The pathogenesis of acute renal failure remains uncertain. From a clinical viewpoint the magnitude of the problem of nephrotoxic acute renal failure is now recognised as is the frequency of non-oliguric acute renal failure. Advances in patient management include the use of daily dialysis, lower heparin doses, single-needle dialysis, bicarbonate-base dialysis fluid, artificial kidneys with biocompatible membranes, H2 antagonists, and the use of soft silastic Tenckhoff catheters if peritoneal dialysis is the preferred form of therapy.