Hemodynamic and Respiratory Tolerance of Intermittent Hemodialysis in Critically Ill Patients

Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects up to 30% of critically ill patients and is associated with increased rates of mortality. Up to 60% of patients with AKI will ultimately require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) is one of the main methods of RRT worldwide. In IHD-bicar, dialysate is composed by electrolytes, including calcium, and bicarbonate. To avoid calcium carbonate precipitation, dialysate has to be supplemented with acids (citric acid, chloride acid or acetic acid). However, IHD-bicar may be associated with hemodynamic instability or respiratory intolerance, mainly related to the CO2 release in the circulation during IHD (HCO3- \ CO2 + H2O). Some recent studies showed that acetate free biofiltration (AFB-K), a technique that does not require dialysate acidification, could be associated with better hemodynamic stability and to a lower amount of CO2 delivered to the patients. AFB-K may thus improve the hemodynamic and respiratory tolerance of intermittent RRT in critically ill patients.