Filter Lifespan in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

The only supportive therapy for patients with AKI is renal replacement therapy (RRT). In the ICU setting, continuous RRT (CRRT) is mostly favored. In a post-hoc analysis of the RICH trial (regional citrate versus systemic heparin anticoagulation for CRRT in critically ill patient with AKI), it was shown that the filter life span is associated with an increased rate of new infection and that the type of anticoagulants did not directly affect infection rate. The mechanisms of this infection rate is unknown.