The landscape of renal replacement therapy in Veterans Affairs Medical Center intensive care units

Antimicrobial pharmacokinetics and dosing in critically ill adults receiving prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy: A systematic review

Prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy (PIRRT) is gaining popularity as a renal replacement modality in intensive care units, but there is a relative lack of guidance regarding antimicrobial clearance and dosing when compared with other modalities. The objectives of this systematic review were to: (1) identify and describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of relevant antimicrobials used in critically ill adults receiving PIRRT, (2) evaluate the quality of evidence supporting these data, and (3) propose dosing recommendations based on the synthesis of these data. A search strategy for multiple databases was designed and executed to identify relevant published evidence describing the PK of antimicrobials used in critically ill adults receiving PIRRT. Quality assessment, evaluation of reporting, and relevant data extraction were conducted in duplicate. Synthesis of PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) outcomes, dosing recommendations from study authors, and physicochemical properties of included antibiotics were assessed by investigators in addition to the quality of evidence to develop dosing recommendations. Thirty-nine studies enrolling 452 patients met criteria for inclusion and provided PK and/or PD data for 20 antimicrobials in critically ill adults receiving PIRRT. Nineteen studies describe both PK and PD outcomes. Vancomycin (12 studies, 171 patients), meropenem (7 studies, 84 patients), and piperacillin/tazobactam (5 studies, 56 patients) were the most frequent antimicrobials encountered. The quality of evidence was deemed strong for 7/20 antimicrobials, and strong dosing recommendations were determined for 9/20 antimicrobials. This systematic review updates and addresses issues of quality in previous systematic reviews on this topic. Despite an overall low quality of evidence, strong recommendations were able to be made for almost half of the identified antimicrobials. Knowledge gaps persist for many antimicrobials, and higher quality studies (i.e., population PK studies with assessment of PD target attainment) are needed to address these gaps.

Long-term arteriovenous fistula prognosis for maintenance hemodialysis patients who accepted PIRRT by using arteriovenous fistula

BACKGROUND

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients are often admitted to the hospital for severe morbidities. Prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy (PIRRT) is required during the hospital staying. There are controversial opinions on the use of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as vascular access for PIRRT in MHD patients.

METHODS

Patients with AVF who accepted PIRRT in our center between January 2014 and June 2021 were retrospectively screened. AVF dysfunction and patient mortality were assessed as endpoints. Univariate and multivariate regression models were employed to identify the risk factors of AVF dysfunction.

RESULTS

About 162 patients were included in our present study. Twenty-six experienced AVF dysfunction, of whom 53.8%, 19.2%, and 27.0% had percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, surgical revision, and AVF reconstruction, respectively. The accumulated AVF dysfunction rates were 11.8%, 16.2%, and 21.0% in 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking (HR 2.750, 95% CI 1.181-6.402, p = 0.019), higher platelet (PLT, HR 1.009, 95% CI 1.000-1.017, p = 0.047), higher prothrombin activity (PTA, HR 1.039, 95% CI 1.012-1.066, p = 0.004), and lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP, HR 0.963, 95% CI 0.932-0.996, p = 0.026) were independent risk factors for AVF dysfunction. During the follow-up period, 37 patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the use of AVF for PIRRT might not dramatically increase the incidence of AVF dysfunction. And, Smoking, lower DBP, higher PLT, and higher PTA were associated with increased AVF dysfunction.

How I prescribe prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy

Prolonged Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy (PIRRT) is the term used to define 'hybrid' forms of renal replacement therapy. PIRRT can be provided using an intermittent hemodialysis machine or a continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machine. Treatments are provided for a longer duration than typical intermittent hemodialysis treatments (6-12 h vs. 3-4 h, respectively) but not 24 h per day as is done for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Usually, PIRRT treatments are provided 4 to 7 times per week. PIRRT is a cost-effective and flexible modality with which to safely provide RRT for critically ill patients. We present a brief review on the use of PIRRT in the ICU with a focus on how we prescribe it in that setting.

How I prescribe prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy

Prolonged Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy (PIRRT) is the term used to define 'hybrid' forms of renal replacement therapy. PIRRT can be provided using an intermittent hemodialysis machine or a continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machine. Treatments are provided for a longer duration than typical intermittent hemodialysis treatments (6-12 h vs. 3-4 h, respectively) but not 24 h per day as is done for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Usually, PIRRT treatments are provided 4 to 7 times per week. PIRRT is a cost-effective and flexible modality with which to safely provide RRT for critically ill patients. We present a brief review on the use of PIRRT in the ICU with a focus on how we prescribe it in that setting.

Prolonged Intermittent Kidney Replacement Therapy

Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is a vital, supportive treatment for patients with critical illness and severe AKI. The optimal timing, dose, and modality of KRT have been studied extensively, but gaps in knowledge remain. With respect to modalities, continuous KRT and intermittent hemodialysis are well-established options, but prolonged intermittent KRT is becoming more prevalent worldwide, particularly in emerging countries. Compared with continuous KRT, prolonged intermittent KRT offers similar hemodynamic stability and overall cost savings, and its intermittent nature allows patients time off therapy for mobilization and procedures. When compared with intermittent hemodialysis, prolonged intermittent KRT offers more hemodynamic stability, particularly in patients who remain highly vulnerable to hypotension from aggressive ultrafiltration over a shorter duration of treatment. The prescription of prolonged intermittent KRT can be tailored to patients' progression in their recovery from critical illness, and the frequency, flow rates, and duration of treatment can be modified to avert hemodynamic instability during de-escalation of care. Dosing of prolonged intermittent KRT can be extrapolated from urea kinetics used to calculate clearance for continuous KRT and intermittent hemodialysis. Practice variations across institutions with respect to terminology, prescription, and dosing of prolonged intermittent KRT create significant challenges, especially in creating specific drug dosing recommendations during prolonged intermittent KRT. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, prolonged intermittent KRT was rapidly implemented to meet the KRT demands during patient surges in some of the medical centers overwhelmed by sheer volume of patients with AKI. Ideally, implementation of prolonged intermittent KRT at any institution should be conducted in a timely manner, with judicious planning and collaboration among nephrology, critical care, dialysis and intensive care nursing, and pharmacy leadership. Future analyses and clinical trials with respect to prescription and delivery of prolonged intermittent KRT and clinical outcomes will help to guide standardization of practice.

Nursing Countermeasures of Continuous Renal Replacement Treatment in End-Stage Renal Disease with Refractory Hypotension in the Context of Smart Health

This work is aimed at exploring the nursing strategies and effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with refractory hypotension under the background of smart health. 40 ESRD patients with refractory hypotension who received CRRT treatment were enrolled as the research objects and were randomly rolled into the intervention group and the control group, with 20 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received routine nursing, and those in the intervention group received individualized nursing. The incidence of hypotension, dry body weight, serous cavity effusion, renal function indicators (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cre)), and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. The results showed that the probability of hypotension in the intervention group was 9.38%, which was lower than that in the control group (34.38%). The probability of early termination of dialysis in the intervention group was 0%, which was lower than that in the control group (18.75%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The decreases of BUN and Cre in the intervention group were significantly greater than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of water growth less than 10% during dialysis in the intervention group was 98.44%, which was greater than that in the control group (93.45%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The ultrafiltration volume after dialysis in the intervention group was 2850 ± 400 mL, which was greater than that in the control group 2350 ± 350 mL. After intervention, the proportion of patients with pleural effusion in the intervention group was 10% less than that in the control group (20%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The satisfaction rate of the intervention group was 97.66%, which was higher than that of the control group (65.63%). In conclusion, individualized nursing was more helpful to the recovery of ESRD patients with refractory hypotension treated with CRRT than routine nursing.