The provision and practice of renal replacement therapy on adult intensive care units in the United Kingdom

Abstract

This study surveyed the availability and current practice of renal replacement therapy on adult general intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires were returned from 236 units (89%). Renal replacement therapy was provided by 212 (90%) of responding units, treating 9442 patients per year. Renal physicians were involved in the initiation and prescription of treatment in 22 (11%) units. Ninety-one units (43%) had no step down facility on-site for those patients still requiring renal replacement therapy but no longer requiring intensive care. Continuous techniques are used by the majority of units, most commonly, continuous veno-venous haemofiltration, with an ultrafiltration rate of 2000 ml.h-1. Fifty-eight units (28%) use haemofiltration as adjuvant treatment in septic shock. The provision and practice of renal replacement therapy is now an integral part of intensive care medicine in the United Kingdom.