Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Renal Failure in the Elderly

Abstract

Elderly individuals are more prone to the development of acute renal failure (ARF) under circumstances of structural and functional changes. When accompanied by multiple organ failure, the elderly are exposed to an excess risk of death. These factors have led ARF to be one of the most important clinical conditions in the eld-erly. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) affords better hemodynamic stability than conventional intermittent hemodialysis (IHD), although evidence supporting its superiority over IHD is lacking. Given their frequent comorbidities, the elderly may be at a higher risk of hemodynamic instability and therefore more likely to undergo CRRT. Until evidence is available, we recommend CRRT for ARF in patients whose hemody-namic status makes them unable to tolerate IHD. Clinicians should be familiar with this treatment modality as the need for it will most likely increase.

Keywords

• acute renal failure
• continuous renal replacement therapy
• dialysis
• elderly