Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies ( CRRT )
CRRT procedure is a blood purification process used for patients with acute kidney injury, sepsis-like syndrome, and multi-organ failure, particularly patients who are hemodynamically unstable to support kidney function.
During the CRRT dialysis therapy, the patient’s blood passes through a blood purification machine, filter and blood warmer. This blood purification therapy is a slow and continuous process which can run continuously 24 hours a day to remove fluid and uremic toxins from the blood and return the blood back to the patient’s body.
This therapy helps patients with unstable heart rates and blood pressure to tolerate hemodialysis better.
CRRT therapy is considered a life-saving and life-sustaining therapy.
There are the most common and less common indications of CRRT for acute renal failure treatment when complicated with any of the following:
Most common indications of CRRT
- Kidney failure with low blood pressure on multiple life supporting medications
- Kidney failure with an expansion of the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume refer as volume overload along with severe heart failure
- Kidney failure with acute or chronic liver failure, cirrhosis
- Cerebral edema or brain swelling along with Kidney failure
- An abnormally high metabolic breakdown of tissue or substance which leads to physical deterioration and weight loss, refer as hypercatabolism
Less common indications of CRRT
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
- Sepsis or septicemia
- Multiorgan failure syndrome
- Crush syndrome or traumatic rhabdomyolysis
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) is a preferred dialysis therapy and has many benefits to acute kidney failure patients, such as:
- Control of blood pressure
- Balance minerals and acid/base chemicals
- Maintain fluid balance
- Normal electrolytes levels
- Continuous removal of excess fluid and uremic toxins
- Improves survival rate
- Improve chances of complete recovery