Published in:
Open Access
01-06-2014 | Commentary
Renal recovery after acute kidney injury: choice of initial renal replacement therapy modality still matters
Authors:
Antoine G Schneider, Sean M Bagshaw
Published in:
Critical Care
|
Issue 3/2014
Login to get access
Abstract
Renal replacement therapy can be applied either in an intermittent fashion or in a continuous fashion in severe acute kidney injury. To date, no modality has been shown to consistently improve patient survival. In the study recently reported by Sun and colleagues, continuous application of renal replacement therapy was associated with improved renal recovery, defined by lower risk of long-term need for chronic dialysis therapy. This association between nonrecovery and intermittent renal replacement therapy may be explained by a higher rate of hypotensive episodes and the lower capacity for fluid removal during the first 72 hours of therapy. Altogether, this study adds to the growing body of evidence to suggest improved likelihood of recovery of kidney function in critically ill survivors of AKI with continuous modalities for renal replacement therapy.