Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality After RRT Calls

Despite wide adoption of rapid response teams across the United States, predictors of in-hospital mortality for patients receiving rapid response team calls are poorly characterized. Identification of patients at high risk... read more

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality After RRT Calls

Hyponatremia and Death in Healthy Children From Plain Dextrose and Hypotonic Saline Solutions after Surgery

Standards of practice should be established for postoperative IV solutions that are used to hydrate patients, particularly children. The standards should acknowledge that the administration of solutions with saline in maintenance... read more

Hyponatremia and Death in Healthy Children From Plain Dextrose and Hypotonic Saline Solutions after Surgery

Biomarkers for Prediction of RRT in AKI

Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs in critically ill patients and often precipitates use of renal replacement therapy (RRT). However, the ideal circumstances for whether and when to start RRT remain unclear. We performed... read more

Biomarkers for Prediction of RRT in AKI

RRT in the Critically Ill Child

Although renal replacement therapy (RRT) is widely used in critically ill children, there have been few comprehensive population-based studies of its use. This article describes renal replacement therapy use, and associated... read more

RRT in the Critically Ill Child

Impact of Nighttime RRT Activation on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Acute Deterioration

Acutely deteriorating ward patients assessed by an RRT at nighttime had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality. This work identifies important shortcomings in health service provision and quality of care outside daytime hours,... read more

Impact of Nighttime RRT Activation on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Acute Deterioration

Outcomes in Patients with Vasodilatory Shock and RRT Treated with Intravenous Angiotensin II

Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy in severe vasodilatory shock is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Angiotensin II treatment may help these patients by potentially restoring renal function... read more

Outcomes in Patients with Vasodilatory Shock and RRT Treated with Intravenous Angiotensin II

Too Much SALT on the ICU?

There has a been a little flutter of activity in the #FOAMed world this week about two trials published in the NEJM on the subject of balanced fluids in the care of critically ill patients, and also on admitted patients in... read more

Too Much SALT on the ICU?

Acute Kidney Injury in Sepsis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and sepsis carry consensus definitions. The simultaneous presence of both identifies septic AKI. Septic AKI is the most common AKI syndrome in ICU and accounts for approximately half of all such... read more

Acute Kidney Injury in Sepsis

Renal Recovery – RRT Modality

Renal recovery - does the choice of renal replacement therapy matter?... read more

Renal Recovery – RRT Modality

Spotlight Interview: The World of Fluids

Looking at the data from a new perspective, the article "Both Positive and Negative Fluid Balance May Be Associated With Reduced Long-Term Survival in the Critically Ill" published in Critical Care Medicine in August 2017,... read more

Spotlight Interview: The World of Fluids

Kinetic Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Critically Ill Patients

Both the Acute kidney injury (AKI) classification system and the nonsteady-state (kinetic) estimated glomerular filtration rate (KeGFR) are complementary to each other. Assessing both AKI stage and KeGFR can help to identify... read more

Kinetic Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Critically Ill Patients

RRT Modality in the ICU and Renal Recovery at Hospital Discharge

In this large retrospective study, intermittent hemodialysis as an initial modality was associated with lower renal recovery at hospital discharge among patients with acute kidney injury, although the difference seems somewhat... read more

RRT Modality in the ICU and Renal Recovery at Hospital Discharge

Can this patient be safely weaned from RRT?

The timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the critically ill with acute kidney injury (AKI) has been widely studied and discussed in detail recently. However, there is limited information and few recommendations... read more

Can this patient be safely weaned from RRT?

Levosimendan in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Levosimendan reduces mortality in patients with preoperative severely reduced LVEF but does not affect overall mortality. Levosimendan reduces the need for RRT after high-risk cardiac surgery. Six RCTs were included in the... read more

Levosimendan in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Early Oseltamivir Therapy Improves the Outcome in Critically Ill with Influenza

This real-life study emphasizes oseltamivir efficacy on in-hospital outcome when administrated within 2 days of the onset of symptoms. Even if physicians' awareness of the influenza disease has been undeniably enhanced... read more

Early Oseltamivir Therapy Improves the Outcome in Critically Ill with Influenza

Association Between Survival and Time of Day for RRT Calls

Rapid response team activation is less frequent during the early morning and is followed by a spike in mortality in the 7 AM hour. These findings suggest that failure to rescue deteriorating patients is more common overnight.... read more

Association Between Survival and Time of Day for RRT Calls

Optimal Timing of RRT in Patients with AKI in the Context of Sepsis

Among 620 patients enrolled in AKIKI, 494 (80%) had sepsis and 413 (67%) septic shock. This can help to suggest recommendations in septic patients with AKI. AKIKI showed no significant difference in mortality between early... read more

Optimal Timing of RRT in Patients with AKI in the Context of Sepsis

Both Positive and Negative Fluid Balance May Be Associated With Reduced Long-Term Survival in the Critically Ill

Among critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, exposure to positive fluid balance, compared with negative fluid balance, has been associated with mortality and impaired renal recovery. However, it is unclear whether... read more

Both Positive and Negative Fluid Balance May Be Associated With Reduced Long-Term Survival in the Critically Ill

Effect of an automated notification system for deteriorating ward patients on clinical outcomes

We performed a prospective before-and-after study in all patients admitted to two clinical ward areas in a district general hospital in the UK. We examined the effect on clinical outcomes of deploying an electronic automated... read more

Effect of an automated notification system for deteriorating ward patients on clinical outcomes

A patient and family initiated rapid response system

Rapid response teams (RRTs) help in delivering safe, timely care. Typically they are activated by clinicians using specific parameters. Allowing patients and families to activate RRTs is a novel intervention. 240 patients/family... read more

A patient and family initiated rapid response system

Earlier Renal Replacement Therapy for AKI? Not So Fast, Says Dr Berns

The AKIKI study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine; ELAIN was published in JAMA. If you have not read them, you should, if for no other reason than that your colleagues are likely to ask about them.... read more

Earlier Renal Replacement Therapy for AKI? Not So Fast, Says Dr Berns