Management of acute renal replacement therapy in critically ill cirrhotic patients

[When should a liver disease patient be admitted to the intensive care unit?]

Liver diseases are a significant global cause of morbidity and mortality. Liver cirrhosis can result in severe complications such as bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and infections. Implementing a clear strategy for intensive care unit (ICU) admission management improves patient outcomes. Hemodynamically significant esophageal/gastric variceal bleeding (E/GVB) and grade 4 HE, when accompanied by the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), are definitive indications for ICU admission. E/GVB, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), and infections with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) require close and stringent critical assessment. Patients with severe hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) or respiratory failure have increased baseline mortality and most likely benefit from early ICU treatment. Rapid identification of sepsis in patients with liver cirrhosis is a crucial criterion for ICU admission. Prioritizing cases based on mortality risk and clinical urgency enables efficient resource utilization and optimizes patient management. In addition, "Liver Units" provide an intermediate care (IMC) level for patients with liver diseases who require close monitoring but do not need immediate intensive care.

How to safeguard the continuous renal replacement therapy circuit: a narrative review

The high prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in ICU patients emphasizes the need to understand factors influencing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) circuit lifespan for optimal outcomes. This review examines key pharmacological interventions-citrate (especially in regional citrate anticoagulation), unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and nafamostat mesylate (NM)-and their effects on filter longevity. Citrate shows efficacy with lower bleeding risks, while UFH remains cost-effective, particularly in COVID-19 cases. LMWH is effective but associated with higher bleeding risks. NM is promising for high-bleeding risk scenarios. The review advocates for non-tunneled, non-cuffed temporary catheters, especially bedside-inserted ones, and discusses the advantages of surface-modified dual-lumen catheters. Material composition, such as polysulfone membranes, impacts filter lifespan. The choice of treatment modality, such as Continuous Veno-Venous Hemodialysis (CVVHD) or Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration with Dialysis (CVVHDF), along with the management of effluent volume, blood flow rates, and downtime, are critical in prolonging filter longevity in CRRT. Patient-specific conditions, particularly the type of underlying disease, and the implementation of early mobilization strategies during CRRT are identified as influential factors that can extend the lifespan of CRRT filters. In conclusion, this review offers insights into factors influencing CRRT circuit longevity, supporting evidence-based practices and suggesting further multicenter studies to guide ICU clinical decisions.

Comparative Mortality Rates of Vasoconstrictor Agents in the Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is an acute complication of advanced liver disease, which manifests with a rapidly progressive decline in kidney function. Though pharmacological treatment has been recently advanced, there are still high mortality rates. The study compares the mortality rate in patients using different vasoconstrictor agents in the management of HRS. A complete literature search was done in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PubMed Central (PMC), and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). Studies were included according to previously established criteria, in which all studies reporting on adult patients with HRS treated with vasoconstrictor agents were eligible. The data extracted were analyzed with a random-effects model to express variability between studies, and the principal measure was the risk ratio (RR) for mortality. Of the 8,137 studies identified, 29 met the inclusion criteria. In the meta-analysis, vasoconstrictors, mainly terlipressin, significantly improved renal function and decreased the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) versus placebo. However, a significant impact on mortality was lacking (0.94 (0.84-1.06), p = 0.31). The subgroup analysis found that mortality rates were not significantly different between vasoconstrictors, whether used in combination with or without albumin (0.97 (0.77-1.23), p = 0.79, and 0.98 (0.79-1.21), p = 0.86). Global heterogeneity was low, indicating consistent results in the studies. Vasoconstrictors are helpful in managing HRS, with improvement in renal function and reduction in RRT requirements. However, the effect on mortality was small and nonsignificant. Such findings support the use of terlipressin in HRS management; concomitantly, they emphasize the need for personalized treatment strategies and future research to find alternative therapies that may be more effective for improved survival results with fewer side effects.

Critical care outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis: a United States national inpatient sample cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Prior assessments of critical care outcomes in patients with cirrhosis have shown conflicting results. We aimed to provide nationwide generalizable results of critical care outcomes in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2019. Adults with cirrhosis who required respiratory intubation, central venous catheter placement or both (n = 12,945) with principal diagnoses including: esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH, 24%), hepatic encephalopathy (58%), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS, 14%) or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (4%) were included. A comparison cohort of patients without cirrhosis requiring intubation or central line placement for any principal diagnosis was included.

RESULTS

Those with cirrhosis were younger (mean 58 vs. 63 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be male (62% vs. 54%, p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher in the cirrhosis cohort (33.1% vs. 26.6%, p < 0.001) and ranged from 26.7% in EVH to 50.6% HRS. Mortality when renal replacement therapy was utilized (n = 1580, 12.2%) was 46.5% in the cirrhosis cohort, compared to 32.3% in other hospitalizations (p < 0.001), and was lowest in EVH (25.7%) and highest in HRS (51.5%). Mortality when cardiopulmonary resuscitation was used was increased in the cirrhosis cohort (88.0% vs. 72.1%, p < 0.001) and highest in HRS (95.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

One-third of patients with cirrhosis requiring critical care did not survive to discharge in this U.S. nationwide assessment. While outcomes were worse than in patients without cirrhosis, the results do suggest better outcomes compared to previous studies.

Inadvertent Intoxication with Salbutamol, Treated with Hemodialysis: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

Introduction

Salbutamol is a moderately selective beta-2-adrenergic agonist. Various side effects can occur because of beta-1 and beta-2 receptor activation. Due to the large volume of distribution, it is not considered dialyzable.

Case Presentation

A patient with salbutamol intoxication, which developed as a result of a medical error in a patient with sepsis, Down syndrome, and liver cirrhosis, is presented. Initial treatment was partially successful and antibiotic adjustments were made. After his respiratory failure worsened, the patient needed non-invasive ventilation, and previously undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was suspected. He was prescribed intravenous methylprednisolone but accidently received 5 mg of salbutamol (albuterol), which led to immediate severe arrhythmic tachycardia with hemodynamic collapse. After unsuccessful cardioversion and treatment with landiolol infusion, salvage hemodialysis was commenced to decrease suspectedly highly elevated serum salbutamol levels. After 30 min, sinus rhythm with normocardia was observed. After the hemodialysis termination, no rebound tachycardia was noted, but due to severe septic shock, the hypotension was ongoing and vasoactive medications were adjusted. However, the measured levels of plasma salbutamol and data from literature do not support the view that hemodialysis was the cause of the described improvement: the total amount of the drug cleared was very small (2.8% of total dose).

Conclusion

Our results confirm a large volume of salbutamol distribution; the measured levels are within observed therapeutic levels; and the measured half-life time during hemodialysis (3.1 h) is comparable to observed half-life times in therapeutic settings. The observed favorable clinical benefit associated with dialysis may be fortuitous, highlighting potential bias toward positive clinical outcomes and unproven ("salvage") therapies.

Extracorporeal blood purification in patients with liver failure: Considerations for the low-and-middle income countries of Latin America

Severe liver failure is common in Low-and-Medium Income Countries (LMIC) and is associated with a high morbidity, mortality and represents an important burden to the healthcare system. In its most severe state, liver failure is a medical emergency, that requires supportive care until either the liver recovers or a liver transplant is performed. Frequently the patient requires intensive support until their liver recovers or they receive a liver transplant. Extracorporeal blood purification techniques can be employed as a strategy for bridging to transplantation or recovery. The most common type of extracorporeal support provided to these patients is kidney replacement therapy (KRT), as acute kidney injury is very common in these patients and KRT devices more readily available. However, because most of the substances that the liver clears are lipophilic and albumin-bound, they are not cleared effectively by KRT. Hence, there has been much effort in developing devices that more closely resemble the clearance function of the liver. This article provides a review of various non-biologic extracorporeal liver support devices that can be used to support these patients, and our perspective keeping in mind the needs and unique challenges present in the LMIC of Latin America.