Dialytic care of patients with acute renal failure

Acute renal failure remains a common and life-threatening disease with a ve ry high mortality. Renal replacement therapy only provides supportive care. The purpose of this review is to discuss the indications and complications of renal replacement therapies in acute renal failure. Various controversi al issues such as biocompatibility of membranes, adequacy of dialysis and u tilization of continuous renal replacement therapies in acute renal failure are also covered. The nutritional needs of a patient with acute renal fail ure receiving renal replacement therapy are also explained. Finally, the ou tcome of patients with acute renal failure requiring dialysis is discussed. (C) 2000 Prous Science. All rights reserved.