Tunneled Dialysis Catheters Versus Non-tunneled Dialysis Catheters as First-line for Renal Replacement Therapy in the ICU

The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to examine whether tunneled dialysis catheters should be first-line for acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (AKI-RRT) in the critical care setting, barring any clinical contraindications, compared to non-tunneled access. This randomized controlled trial will include patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). The investigators will randomize all eligible consented incident patients with AKI requiring renal replacement therapy either to tunneled dialysis catheter or non-tunneled dialysis catheter placement. The inclusion criteria encompasses all adult patients in the BWH ICUs with an incident AKI requiring renal replacement therapy. The investigators' hypothesis is that the rate of overall complications is lower with tunneled dialysis catheters compared to non-tunneled catheters.