CONTINUOUS ARTERIOVENOUS HEMODIAFILTRATION IN POSTOPERATIVE AND TRAUMATIC PENAL FAILURE

Management of acute renal failure (ARF) in surgical patients has relie d on supportive measures including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysi s. An alternative technique currently available is continuous arteriov enous hemodiafiltration (CAVH-D). Records of 44 Surgical patients with ARF who were treated with CAVH-D in our surgical intensive care unit from 1989 to 1992 were reviewed. Thirty-five patients underwent emerge ncy operations, and 4 patients underwent elective operations. Thirty-t hree patients were hemodynamically unstable immediately prior to the i nstitution of CAVH-D, making hemodialysis a contraindication. A total of 565 CAVH-D days with an average of 13 days per patient were evaluat ed. Seventeen patients survived, with recovery of renal function in 13 patients.