High volume peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure

Background. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is still widely used for acute renal failure (ARF) in developing countries despite concerns about its inadequacy. Continuous PD has been evaluated in ARF by analyzing the resolution of metabolic abnormality and normalization of plasma pH, bicarbonate, and potassium.Methodology: A prospective study was performed on 30 ARF patients who were assigned to high-dose continuous PD (Kt/V = 0.65 per session) via a flexible catheter (Tenckhoff) and automated PD with a cycler. Fluid removal, pH and metabolic control, protein Loss, and patient outcome were evaluated.Results: Patients received 236 continuous PD sessions; 76% were admitted to ICUs. APACHE II score was 32.2 +/- 8.65. BUN concentrations stabilized after 3 sessions, creatinine after 4, and bicarbonate and pH after 2. Fluid removal was 2.1 +/- 0.62 L/day. Creatinine and urea clearances were 15.8 +/- 4.16 and 17.3 +/- 5.01 mL/minute respectively. Normalized creatinine clearance and urea Kt/V values were 110.6 +/- 22.5 L/week/1.73 m(2) body surface area and 3.8 +/- 0.6 respectively. Solute reduction index was 41% +/- 6.5% per session. Serum albumin values remained stable in spite of considerable protein tosses (median 21.7 g/day, interquartile range 9.1 - 29.8 g/day). Regarding ARF outcome, 23% of patients presented renal function recovery, 13% remained on dialysis after 30 days of follow-up, and 57% died.Conclusion: High-dose continuous PD by flexible catheter and cycler was an effective treatment for ARF. It provided high solute removal, allowing appropriate metabolic and pH control, and adequate dialysis dose and fluid removal. Continuous PD can therefore be considered an alternative to other forms of renal replacement therapy in ARF.

Acute renal failure: Clinical outcome and causes of death

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients and is strongly related to increase in mortality. In order to analyze the clinical outcome and the prognostic factors in hospital-acquired ARF a prospective study was performed. Data from 200 patients with established ARF during the period of January 1987 through July 1990 were collected. The incidence of ARF was 4.9/1000 admissions. Renal ischemia (50%) and nephrotoxic drugs (21%) were the main etiologic factors. The histologic study done in 43 patients showed: acute tubular necrosis (53%), tubular hydropic degeneration (16%), glomerulopathies (16%), and other lesions (15%). Dialysis therapy was performed in 101 patients. The mortality rate was 46.5% and the most important causes of death were. sepsis (38%), respiratory failure (19%), and multiple organ failure (11%). Higher mortality was observed in oliguric patients (62.9%) than nonoliguric (34.5%) (p < 0.05) and in ischemic renal failure (56.7%) when compared to nephrotoxic renal failure (14.7%) (p < 0.05). As primary cause of death was not associated to the acute renal failure, conclude that acute renal failure is an important marker of the gravity of the underlying disease and not the cause of death.

Acute renal failure in renal allograft recipients and patients with native kidneys

In order to evaluate the role of underlying disease in the high mortality observed in acute renal failure (ARF) and risk factors related to the development of oliguric ARF in renal allograft recipients, two groups were selected: 34 patients with native kidneys, aged 16 and 57 years, and presenting ischemic ARF caused by cardiovascular collapse, with no signs of infection at the time of diagnosis; and 34 renal allograft recipients who developed ARF immediately after transplantation, without rejection. ARF was defined either as 30% increase of basal plasmatic creatinine in patients with native kidneys or non-normalization of plasmatic creatinine at day 5 after transplantation in renal allograft recipients; oliguria as diuresis ≤ 400 mL/24 h. There were no differences in age, male frequency, oliguria presence and duration, need for dialysis, and infection episodes for renal allograft recipients and patients with native kidneys. The development of sepsis (3% and 41%) and death rate (3% and 44%) were higher in patients with native kidneys (p < 0.01). The renal allograft recipients with both oliguric (n = 18) and nonoliguric (n = 16) ARF were evaluated and no difference was observed in the recipient's age, donor's age, cold ischemia time, time elapsed until plasmatic creatinine normalization, donor's plasmatic creatinine or urea, and mean arterial pressure. No differences were observed between the groups regarding frequency of infection episodes during ARF and frequency of death. In conclusion, renal allograft recipients presented a lower death rate and were less susceptible to sepsis. Cold ischemia time, age, and hemodynamic characteristics of the donor did not affect the development of oliguria.

Peritoneal dialysis in acute renal failure

The definition of adequate dialysis in acute renal failure (ARF) is complex and involves the time of referral to dialysis, dose, and dialytic method. Nephrologist experience with a specific procedure and the availability of different dialysis modalities play an important role in these choices. There is no consensus in literature on the best method or ideal dialysis dose in ARF. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is used less and less in ARF patients, and is being replaced by continuous venovenous therapies. However, it should not be discarded as a worthless therapeutic option for ARF patients. PD offers several advantages over hemodialysis, such as its technical simplicity, excellent cardiovascular tolerance, absence of an extracorporeal circuit, lack of bleeding risk, and low risk of hydro-electrolyte imbalance. PD also has some limitations, though: it needs an intact peritoneal cavity, carries risks of peritoneal infection and protein losses, and has an overall lower effectiveness. Because daily solute clearance is lower with PD than with daily HD, there have been concerns that PD cannot control uremia in ARF patients. Controversies exist concerning its use in patients with severe hypercatabolism; in these cases, daily hemodialysis or continuous venovenous therapy have been preferred. There is little literature on PD in ARF patients, and what exists does not address fundamental parameters such as adequate quantification of dialysis and patient catabolism. Given these limitations, there is a pressing need to re-evaluate the adequacy of PD in ARF using accepted standards. Therefore, new studies should be undertaken to resolve these problems. Copyright © Informa Healthcare.

Acute renal ischemia model in dogs: Effects of metoprolol

Introduction: To study the functional and hystological alterations in dog kidneys submitted to total ischemia for thirty minutes and the possible metoprolol protective action. Material and methods: Sixteen dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (SP) were studied and divided into two groups: G1-8 dogs submitted to left nephrectomy and right renal artery clamping for thirty minutes, and G2-8 dogs submitted to the same procedures of G1 and to the administration of 0.5 mg.kg(-1) metoprolol before ischemia. Attributes of renal function were studied. Results: There was acute tubular necrosis and a decrease of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration, and a increase of renal vascular resistance in both groups. Conclusion: the thirty minute renal ischemia appears to have determined the alterations found in the renal function and hystology in both groups. Metoprolol, used in G2, as to the time and dose applied didn't protect the kidney from the ischemic episode.

Renal function and histology after acute hemorrhage in rats under dexmedetomidine action

OBJETIVO: Cerca de 50% de indicações de diálise em insuficiência renal aguda vêm de problemas do perioperatório. Alterações na hemodinâmica intra-operatória levam a vasoconstrição renal e hipoperfusão. Estudos prévios não definiram o papel renal da dexmedetomidina em hemorragia. Foram estudados os efeitos da dexmedetomidina na função e histologia renais, em ratos, após hemorragia aguda. MÉTODOS: Estudo encoberto com 20 ratos Wistar, anestesiados com pentobarbital sódico intraperitoneal, 50 mg. kg-1, divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos sob sangramento de 30% da volemia: GD - dexmedetomidina iv, 3 µg. kg-1 (10 min), e infusão contínua, 3 µg. kg-1. h-1; GC - pentobarbital. Para estimar depuração renal, administraram-se para-aminohipurato e iotalamato de sódio. Atributos estudados: freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial média, temperatura retal, hematócrito, depuração de para-aminohipurato e iotalamato, fração de filtração, fluxo sangüíneo renal, resistência vascular renal, análise histológica dos rins. RESULTADOS: em GD, houve valores menores de freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial média e resistência vascular, mas valores maiores de depuração de iotalamato e fração de filtração. A depuração de para-aminohipurato e o fluxo sangüíneo foram similares nos grupos. As alterações histológicas foram compatíveis com isquemia e houve maior dilatação tubular em GD. CONCLUSÃO: em ratos, após hemorragia aguda, a dexmedetomidina determinou melhor função renal, porém maior dilatação tubular.

Postoperative renal function evaluation, through RIFLE criteria, of elderly patients who underwent femur fracture surgery under spinal anesthesia

Introduction. The postoperative acute renal failure (ARF) incidence in different kinds of surgery has rarely been studied. Age, cardiac dysfunction, previous renal dysfunction, intraoperative hypoperfusion, and use of nephrotoxic medications are mentioned as risk factors for ARF at the postoperative period. The postoperative ARF definition was based on the creatinine increase by the RIFLE classification (R = risk, I = injury, F = failure, L = loss, E = end stage), which corresponds to a 1.5 creatinine increase, two to three times, respectively, above the basal value. This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative ARF incidence in elderly patients who underwent femur fracture surgery under subarachnoid anesthesia and stratify it by the RIFLE criteria. Methods. Ninety patients older than 65 years under spinal anesthesia with fixed dosage of 15 mg of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine associated with morphine 50 g were studied. Immediate postoperative creatinine was considered basal and compared with maximal creatinine evaluated at 24, 48, and 72 postoperative hours. Results. The mean age of the patients was 80.27 years. ARF incidence was 24.44% and stratified this way: R = 21.11% and I = 3.33%. Conclusions. In conclusion, the postoperative ARF incidence after femur fracture surgery in patients over 65 years was 24.44%. By analyzing the stratification based on the RIFLE classification, the incidence was categorized as Risk (R) = 21.11% and Injury (I) = 3.33%.

Efeitos da dexmedetomidina sobre o sistema renal e sobre a concentração plasmática do hormônio antidiurético: estudo experimental em cães

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A insuficiência renal aguda peri-operatória é responsável por elevada taxa de morbidade e mortalidade. Os fármacos alfa2-agonistas aumentam o débito urinário e promovem boa estabilidade hemodinâmica nesse período. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar os efeitos renais e sobre a concentração plasmática do hormônio antidiurético (HAD) provocados pela dexmedetomidina no cão anestesiado. MÉTODO: Trinta e seis cães adultos, anestesiados com propofol, fentanil e isoflurano, foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos que receberam, de modo encoberto: G1 - injeção de 20 mL de solução de cloreto de sódio a 0,9%, em 10 minutos, seguida de injeção de 20 mL da mesma solução em uma hora; G2 - injeção de 20 mL de solução de cloreto de sódio a 0,9% contendo dexmedetomidina (1 µg.kg-1), em 10 minutos, seguida de injeção de 20 mL da mesma solução, com a mesma dose de dexmedetomidina (1 µg.kg-1), em uma hora e G3 - injeção de 20 mL de solução de cloreto de sódio a 0,9% contendo dexmedetomidina (2 µg.kg-1) em 10 minutos, seguida de injeção de 20 mL da mesma solução, com a mesma dose de dexmedetomidina (2 µg.kg-1), em uma hora. As variáveis renais, hemodinâmicas e a concentração plasmática do HAD foram estudadas em quatro momentos: M1 (controle) - imediatamente após o período de estabilização; M2 - após a injeção inicial de 20 mL da solução em estudo, em 10 minutos, coincidindo com o início da injeção da mesma solução, em uma hora; M3 - 30 minutos após M2 e M4 - 30 minutos após M3. RESULTADOS: A dexmedetomidina reduziu a freqüência cardíaca e promoveu estabilidade hemodinâmica, mantendo constante o débito cardíaco. Houve elevação do débito urinário no G2 e G3, em comparação com o G1. A osmolalidade urinária no G2 e G3 foi menor no M3 e M4 em relação ao M1 e M2. A depuração de água livre aumentou no G3. A concentração plasmática do HAD diminuiu no G3, apresentando valores mais baixos que os observados no G1 e G2 em M2 e M4. CONCLUSÕES: Os cães anestesiados com baixas doses de dexmedetomidina promovem diurese hídrica por inibir a secreção do hormônio antidiurético, havendo potencial para proteção renal em eventos isquêmicos.

Fatores de risco pré-operatórios para o desenvolvimento de Insuficiência Renal Aguda em cirurgia cardíaca

OBJETIVO:Avaliar os fatores de risco clínicos pré-cirurgicos para o desenvolvimento de Insuficiência Renal Aguda (IRA) em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. MÉTODO: Foram estudados, de modo prospectivo, 150 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, durante 21 meses consecutivos, havendo um leve predomínio de homens (57%), idade média de 56 ± 15 anos, sendo que 66% apresentavam insuficiência coronariana como principal diagnóstico e 34% valvulopatias. A mediana da creatinina sérica no período pré-operatório foi de 1,1 mg/dl. IRA foi definida como elevação de 30% da creatinina sérica basal. O protocolo de variáveis clínicas teve seu preenchimento iniciado 48 horas antes do procedimento cirúrgico e encerrado 48 horas após o mesmo, incluindo variáveis cardiológicas e não-cardiológicas, além de resultados laboratoriais. RESULTADOS: A IRA esteve presente em 34% dos casos. Após análise multivariada, presença de doença vascular periférica foi fator pré-operatório identificado. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo permitiram sinalizar alguns fatores contributivos para o desenvolvimento de IRA em cirurgia cardíaca, o que pode possibilitar condutas clínicas simples para evitar a disfunção renal nestas situações e, conseqüentemente, redução da taxa de mortalidade. No presente trabalho, o tamanho da amostra talvez tenha impedido a identificação de outros fatores de risco significativos.

Acesso vascular para hemodiálise com cateter temporário de duplo lúmen em cães com insuficiência renal aguda

A hemodiálise é uma modalidade terapêutica que pode sustentar a vida do paciente com insuficiência renal aguda (IRA), enquanto este recupera a função renal. Para sua realização, é necessário estabelecer circulação extracorpórea, para que seja realizada a filtração do sangue, impondo a necessidade de um acesso vascular viável e eficiente. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência e as complicações do acesso vascular para hemodiálise (HD), com cateter temporário de duplo lúmen inserido na veia jugular externa. Foram estudados 10 cães com IRA induzida por gentamicina, submetidos a sessões diárias de HD, com duração de uma hora, até a recuperação da função renal ou óbito. Foram realizadas 104 sessões de HD nos animais estudados, observando-se necessidade de troca do cateter em sete sessões (6,7%), devido à obstrução do lúmen do cateter em seis sessões (5,8%) ou por saída acidental do mesmo em uma sessão (1,0%). Não se observou migração do cateter, infecção, hemorragia ou hematoma no local de entrada do cateter na pele, obtendo-se fluxo sanguíneo patente em 90,4% das sessões. Concluiu-se que o acesso vascular na veia jugular externa com cateter temporário de duplo-lúmen mostrou-se viável, com ocorrência de poucas complicações, sendo, portanto, indicado como forma de acesso para a circulação extracorpórea para HD em cães com IRA.

Fatores pré-operatórios associados à injúria renal aguda após cirurgia cardíaca: estudo prospectivo

OBJECTIVES. To evaluate the clinical characteristics and co-morbidities associated with development of Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in patients of a predominantly tertiary care university hospital.METHODS. One hundred and fifty cardiac surgery patients were prospectively studied at the Botucatu School of Medicine, University Hospital- UNEP, using a protocol which started 48h before and finished 48h after surgery, AKI was defined as a 30% increase in baseline serum creatinine.RESULTS. Were expressed as mean +/- standard deviation or median, with a significance level of 5%. Results: There was a slight male predominance (57%); mean age of the studied population, was 56 +/- 14 years. Sixty-five per cent of patients underwent myocardial revascularization. AKI was diagnosed in 34% of cases, Multivariate analysis showed that age over 60 years and peripheral vascular disease were significant associated with AKI developmentCONCLUSION. AKI was a common complication in cardiac surgery patients at this hospital, AKI was associated with age over 60 years and presence of peripheral vascular disease.

Continuous peritoneal dialysis compared with daily hemodialysis in patients with acute kidney injury

Background: In some parts of the world, peritoneal dialysis is widely used for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI), despite concerns about its inadequacy. It has been replaced in recent years by hemodialysis and, most recently, by continuous venovenous therapies. We performed a prospective study to determine the effect of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD), as compared with daily hemodialysis (dHD), on survival among patients with AKI.Methods: A total of 120 patients with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) were assigned to receive CPD or dHD in a tertiary-care university hospital. The primary endpoint was hospital survival rate; renal function recovery and metabolic, acid-base, and fluid controls were secondary endpoints.Results: of the 120 patients, 60 were treated with CPD (G1) and 60 with dHD (G2). The two groups were similar at the start of RRT with respect to age (64.2 +/- 19.8 years vs 62.5 +/- 21.2 years), sex (men: 72% vs 66%), sepsis (42% vs 47%), shock (61% vs 63%), severity of AKI [Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATNISS): 0.68 +/- 0.2 vs 0.66 +/- 0.22; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II: 26.9 +/- 8.9 vs 24.1 +/- 8.2], pre-dialysis blood urea nitrogen [BUN (116.4 +/- 33.6 mg/dL vs 112.6 +/- 36.8 mg/dL)], and creatinine (5.85 +/- 1.9 mg/dL vs 5.95 +/- 1.4 mg/dL). In G1, weekly delivered Kt/V was 3.59 +/- 0.61, and in G2, it was 4.76 +/- 0.65 (p < 0.01). The two groups were similar in metabolic and acid-base control (after 4 sessions, BUN < 55 mg/dL: 46 +/- 18.7 mg/dL vs 52 +/- 18.2 mg/dL; pH: 7.41 vs 7.38; bicarbonate: 22.8 +/- 8.9 mEq/L vs 22.2 +/- 7.1 mEq/L). Duration of therapy was longer in G2 (5.5 days vs 7.5 days; p = 0.02). Despite the delivery of different dialysis methods and doses, the survival rate did not differ between the groups (58% in G1 vs 52% in G2), and recovery of renal function was similar (28% vs 26%).Conclusion: High doses of CPD provided appropriate metabolic and pH control, with a rate of survival and recovery of renal function similar to that seen with dHD. Therefore, CPD can be considered an alternative to other forms of RRT in AKI.

Estudo prospectivo observacional sobre a incidência de injúria renal aguda em unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital universitário

OBJETIVO: Analisar comparativamente características clínicas e evolução de pacientes com e sem IRA adquirida em UTI geral de um hospital universitário terciário. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo observacional com 263 pacientes acompanhados diariamente durante a internação em UTI Geral do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu no período de julho de 2007 a abril de 2008. RESULTADOS: A incidência de IRA foi de 31,2%. Os grupos foram semelhantes quanto ao sexo e diferiram quanto à etiologia da admissão em UTI (sepse: 31,7% x 13,1%, p < 0,0001, pós-operatório: 11% x 43%, p < 0,0001), idade (59,6 ± 18,1 x 50,2 ± 18,6 anos, p < 0,0001), APACHE II: (21 ± 11,1 x 11 ± 4,8, p = 0,002), oligúria (67,7% x 4,5%, p < 0,0001), presença de ventilação mecânica (81,7 x 57,7%, p = 0,0014), uso de drogas vasoativas (62,2 x 32,6%, p < 0,0001) e enfermaria de procedência (PS: 22 x 14,5%, p = 0,02 e centro cirúrgico: 42,7 x 62,6%, p = 0,03). Quanto às comorbidades, os grupos foram diferentes quanto à presença de HAS e IRC (42,6 x 35,9%, p = 0,005 e 15,8 x 2,1%, p = 0,04, respectivamente) e semelhantes quanto à presença de diabetes e ICC (19,5 x 11%, ns e 6 x 1,1%, ns, respectivamente). A mortalidade foi superior nos pacientes que contraíram IRA (62,1 x 16,5%, p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÃO: A incidência de IRA é elevada em UTI e presente em pacientes com parâmetros clínicos e índices prognósticos de maior gravidade, o que justifica a maior mortalidade observada neles.

Solving the conundrum of Job: a probable biblical description of chronic renal failure with neurological symptoms

A doença descrita no livro bíblico de Jó é controversa, e tem interessado a teólogos, psiquiatras e dermatologistas, há tempos. Neste trabalho os autores apontam para evidências do diagnóstico de insuficiência renal crônica com alterações neurológicas.