A review of continuous renal replacement therapy

Patients in the Intensive Care Unit commonly develop acute renal failure (ARF). The kidneys are rarely the only organs failing in these patients. Frequently ARF is part of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The choice of dialytic therapy should consider, not only the efficacy of the therapy, but also the undesirable effects such therapy may have on the other failing organs. Intermittent Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis were the conventional forms of dialysis available. Both are associated with complications which may make them unsuitable for use in the haemodynamically unstable, hypercatabolic patients, seen in the Intensive Care setting. Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) has been introduced in many Intensive Care Units to provide a more stable, flexible form of dialysis. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the various forms of CRRT and to discuss the advantages of this form of therapy.