Kidneys are important organs that perform critical functions for the body. So, when kidneys get completely damaged or seriously injured, immediate treatment is a must. One of the most effective treatments for injured kidneys is CRRT. It is mandatory to understand continuous renal replacement therapy for managing severely damaged kidney.
However, most people don’t know much about continuous renal replacement therapy. Therefore, in today’s article, we will discuss in detail what CRRT means, when it is needed, and how the procedure takes place.
CRRT: An Overview
In extreme situations (such as acute renal failure) kidneys are not able to perform any of their regular functions. Then patients with acute kidney injury may require a continuous renal replacement therapy. As the name suggests, CRRT stands for replacement of the kidneys.
CRRT is a gentle and slow version of dialysis, and it can effectively remove waste products and excess fluids from a person’s body, thus imitating the role played by perfectly healthy kidneys. Would you like to know more about the procedure, its complications, and risks? Then scroll down to find out more!
When Does a Patient Need CRRT?
CRRT is suggested by doctors when kidney function is not proper. This includes certain conditions like:
- Acute kidney injury
- Acute kidney failure
- Myasthenia gravis
- Chronic failure with acute liver failure
- Chronic renal failure
- Septic shock
Different Kinds of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
critically ill patients with acute kidney injury rely on intermittent renal replacement therapy and other kinds of renal replacement procedures. Even after kidney failure, renal support becomes important. Have a look at the various types of CRRT that can be used based on patient’s condition:
- Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration
- Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration
- Continuous Arteriovenous Hemofiltration
- Continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis
- Slow Continuous Ultrafiltration
- Continuous Arteriovenous Hemodialysis
- Continuous Arteriovenous Hemofiltration
- Continuous Arteriovenous Hemodiafiltration
What Happens During ICU Renal Replacement Therapy?
CRRT is performed in an ICU (intensive care unit) by a radiologist who has experience in catheter placement.
- The first step is to connect the patient to the renal replacement therapy machine, and it consists of a filter, tubing, and pump.
- Then a catheter is used to draw blood from the individual’s body and the catheter is generally inserted into a vein in the person’s groin or neck.
- After that, excess fluids and waste products get eliminated.
- Then the replacement fluid comes into the picture. When it gets mixed with the filtered blood, proper balance of electrolytes and fluids will be maintained.
- Another catheter performs the function of sending the treated blood to the patient, generally inserted into another vein in a different arm.
- To ensure that the patient is safe, the blood pressure and temperature of the patient are constantly monitored by the CRRT machine.
- CRRT may continue for several hours and sometimes, even days. How long the treatment will take depends on the condition of the person and the kind of CRRT used.
Your doctor will carefully monitor for any side effects (like infections, electrolyte imbalances, or bleeding) throughout this procedure.
How Is CRRT Different from Dialysis?
Due to lack of awareness, many people assume that dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy are the same. The major difference between the two is that waste filtration in hemodialysis can be done within a few hours. CRRT, on the other hand, is a slow process, and it is performed round the clock. So, it goes beyond saying that pediatric CRRT for adults is not the same as routine hemodialysis.
As far as the outcome is concerned, CRRT promises more stable result than dialysis.
Complications
Like other treatment methods, CRRT is not devoid of complications. CRRT’s main complications are as follows:
- Hypotension
- Disconnection
- Blood loss
- Access failure or infection
- Catheter-related complications
- Salt balance fluctuations
- Venous thrombosis
- Mechanical complication
- Coagulopathy
- Infection in the breathing tube
Peritoneal dialysis’s specific complications are:
- Hyperglycemia
- Peritonitis
- Protein loss
- Catheter-related infection
Parting Thoughts
So, now that we have shared all about CRRT, we hope you will be able to decide what’s best for you. Just remember that when it comes to your health, you should always research well and get treated at the earliest. If you have more questions, you can consult your healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is continuous renal replacement therapy?
A: CRRT or continuous renal replacement therapy is a kidney replacement technique, and it involves these two things: peritoneal dialysis and intermittent hemodialysis. It is a kind of slow dialysis that takes place for 24 hours.
Q. How does continuous renal replacement therapy work?
A: During CRRT blood is filtered through a membrane using diverse solute transport techniques. The specific mechanism varies depending on the type of CRRT.
