[Postoperative acute renal failure (author's transl)]

Despite progress in intensive therapy and dialysis the lethality of postoperative acute renal failure (ARF) remains very high. Between 1958 and 1976, 374 out of 11474 patients treated in the intensive care unit developed ARF. By conservative treatment that is described in detail, the mortality was reduced from 80 percent (up to 1972) to 50 percent. The mortality rate of dialysis was 86 percent (85 of 98 patients). ARF reflects the severity of the illness of these patients. The prognosis depends besides further complications on the administration of optimal intensive care and early dialysis.