Renal Replacement Therapy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in critically ill canine and feline patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in veterinary critical care unit. Renal replacement therapy (RRT), also called dialysis, is a general term referring to any extracorporeal blood purification therapy that is administered over an extended period. The goals of renal replacement therapy are to maintain fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte balances, prevent further renal damage, promote renal recovery and healing, and allow for other supportive care that the patient may require. Traditional intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) is a planned treatment that typically lasts 3-4 hours and is performed 2-3 days a week on patients with chronic kidney disease. There are several types of renal replacement therapy machines available on the market. Continuous renal replacement therapy and IHD are performed with the use of a hemofilter. There are four techniques of transport utilized in RRT: ultrafiltration, diffusion, convection, and adsorption.