Identifying critically ill patients with acute kidney injury for whom renal replacement therapy is inappropriate: an exercise in futility?

Indications for and Timing of Initiation of KRT

KRT is considered for patients with severe AKI and associated complications. The exact indications for initiating KRT have been debated for decades. There is a general consensus that KRT should be considered in patients with AKI and medically refractory complications ("urgent indications"). "Relative indications" are more common but defined with less precision. In this review, we summarize the latest evidence from recent landmark clinical trials, discuss strategies to anticipate the need for KRT in individual patients, and propose an algorithm for decision making. We emphasize that the decision to consider KRT should be made in conjunction with other forms of organ support therapies and important nonkidney factors, including the patient's preferences and overall goals of care. We also suggest future research to differentiate patients who benefit from timely initiation of KRT from those with imminent recovery of kidney function. Until then, efforts are needed to optimize the initiation and delivery of KRT in routine clinical practice, to minimize nonessential variation, and to ensure that patients with persistent AKI or progressive organ failure affected by AKI receive KRT in a timely manner.

Palliative care for acute kidney injury patients in the intensive care unit

Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) are often suitable for palliative care due to the high symptom burden. The role of palliative medicine in this patient population is not well defined and there is a lack of established guidelines to address this issue. Because of this, patients in the ICU with AKI deprived of the most comprehensive or appropriate care. The reasons for this are multifactorial including lack of palliative care training among nephrologists. However, palliative care in these patients can help alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and decrease suffering. Palliative care physicians can determine the appropriateness and model of palliative care. In addition to shared decision-making, advance directives should be established with patients early on, with specific instructions regarding dialysis, and those advance directives should be respected.

Renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury--when to start

BACKGROUND

Despite the frequent use of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU), there is no accepted consensus on the optimal indications and timing.

METHODS

The aim of this paper is to identify optimal triggers for RRT in critically ill patients with AKI.

RESULTS

We examined data from 2 randomized controlled trials, 2 prospective studies and 13 retrospective trials and found large variation in the different parameters and cut-offs for initiation of RRT. No single biochemical parameter was adequate to define the optimal indication and time to commence RRT. Degree of fluid overload, oliguria and associated non-renal organ failure appeared to be more appropriate parameters for initiation of RRT. We propose a clinical algorithm based on regular assessment of the patient's condition and trends in these parameters. It is intended to aid the process of deciding when to start RRT in critically ill adult patients with AKI.

CONCLUSION

Available evidence suggests that the decision when to start RRT in critically ill patients with AKI should be based on trends in the patient's severity of illness, presence of oliguria and fluid overload and associated non-renal organ failure rather than specific serum creatinine or urea values.