Artificial organ support strategies in combined renal, circulatory, pulmonary and liver failure

Within recent years we have significantly broadened the indication for the treatment of acute renal failure in intensive care patients, even in the presence of multiple organ failure. This was made possible by: 1. safe heparinization of the extracorporeal circulation while avoiding bleeding tendencies 2. hemofiltration of patients threatened by pulmonary complications early during renal failure and 3. the simultaneous use of various special intensive care measures. By this approach we have succeeded in a number of cases to break the chain of complications leading to multiple organ failure and death.