Efficacy and safety of regional citrate anticoagulation in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy

Abstract

A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) to control anticoagulation for haemofiltration revealed that citrate anticoagulation is effective at maintaining circuit patency and reducing the risk of bleeding during haemofiltration. The use of regional citrate anticoagulation also prolongs the haemofiltration circuit life, but this result is not significant when compared to the use of heparin. There was however, marked heterogeneity between trials reported.Level of evidence: 1- (Meta-analysis with a high risk of bias)