BACKGROUND Critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) are at high risk for death and frequently require initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT). There is wide variation in clinical practice on the indications for and timing of initiation and discontinuation of RRT. Numerous clinical and biochemical factors (i.e. uremic, metabolic, fluid balance) have been used; however, at pre...

BACKGROUND Some studies have suggested that early institution of renal replacement therapy (RRT) might be associated with improved outcomes in patients with acute renal failure (ARF). STUDY DESIGN A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort comparative studies to assess the effect of early RRT on mortality in patients with ARF. SETTING & POPULATION Hospi...

We developed an internal positive control (IPC) RNA to help ensure the accuracy of the detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) RNA by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and real-time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR). The IPC was designed to have the same binding sites for the forward and reverse primers of the AIV matrix gene as the target amplicon, but it had a unique internal sequence used for the probe site. T...

BACKGROUND Although the optimal timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury has been extensively studied in the past, it is still unclear. METHODS In this systematic review, we searched all related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that directly compared earlier and later RRT published prior to June 25, 2016, from PubMed, MEDLI...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Outcomes of older patients with ESRD undergoing RRT or conservative management (CM) are uncertain. Adequate survival data, specifically of older patients, are needed for proper counseling. We compared survival of older renal patients choosing either CM or RRT. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS A retrospective survival analysis was performed of a single-ce...

BACKGROUND Renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) has detrimental effects on quality of life and survival of patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs). Current guidelines do not offer a decision-making algorithm for CF-LVAD candidates with poor baseline renal function. Objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with RRT after ...

OBJECTIVES To describe the frequency and hospital mortality of problems (diagnoses) encountered by a rapid response team (RRT), and to identify the most common diagnoses for RRT triggers and for treating units. DESIGN For each RRT event in 2015 at a tertiary hospital for adults, we chose the diagnosis that best explained the RRT event from a pre-defined list after reviewing relevant test resu...

When to commence renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the critically ill remains an unresolved issue. The study by Thakar and colleagues sheds some light on current practice through an international survey, demonstrating physicians' inclination to start RRT earlier when the severity of disease is higher. However, Clec'h and co-workers investigated the effect of RRT on hospital survival by perform...

BACKGROUND Optimal antibiotic dosing is key to maximising patient survival, and minimising the emergence of bacterial resistance. Evidence-based antibiotic dosing guidelines for critically ill patients receiving RRT are currently not available, as RRT techniques and settings vary greatly between ICUs and even individual patients. We aim to develop a robust, evidence-based antibiotic dosing guid...

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients. AKI requires renal replacement therapy (RRT) in up to 10% of patients. Particularly during connection and fluid removal, RRT frequently impairs haemodyamics which impedes recovery from AKI. Therefore, "acute" connection with prefilled tubing and prolonged periods of RRT including sustained low efficiency dialysis (SLED) ...