连续性静脉静脉血液滤过在心脏手术后急性肾功能衰竭中的疗效及应用时机

目的 探讨连续性静脉静脉血液滤过(CVVH)在心脏手术后急性肾功能衰竭中的疗效及应用时机.方法 回顾性分析48 例心脏术后并发急性肾功能衰竭(ARF)患者的临床资料,按出现尿量减少(<0.5 ml·kg-1·h-1)至开始CVVH 治疗的时间间隔分为两组:A 组<4 h(27 例),B 组>4 h(21 例).分别对两组患者治疗前后的血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)、胱抑素C(Cysc),以及CVVH 治疗时间、呼吸机使用时间、ICU 住院时间等指标进行比较.结果 两组患者经过CVVH 治疗后,BUN、Cr、Cysc 等指标均明显改善,两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A 组的CVVH 治疗时间、呼吸机使用时间、ICU 住院时间较B 组患者短,死亡率亦较B 组低,两组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论 CVVH 是治疗心脏术后急性肾功能衰竭的有效方法.及时诊断,尽早(出现少尿4 h 内)行CVVH 治疗,可明显加快ARF 患者肾功能恢复,减少并发症,减少住院时间,降低死亡率.     

Pericardial involvement in end-stage renal disease

Pericardial involvement in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is manifested most commonly as acute uremic or dialysis pericarditis and infrequently as chronic constrictive pericarditis. The causes of uremic and dialysis pericarditis remain uncertain. The clinical and laboratory manifestations of acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis in patients with chronic renal failure are similar to those observed in nonuremic patients with similar pericardial involvement, except that chest pain occurs less frequently in those with ESRD. Therapeutic interventions for acute uremic or dialysis pericarditis with or without pericardial effusion include intensive hemodialysis, pericardiocentesis (infrequently used), pericardiostomy with or without instillation of intrapericardial glucocorticoids, pericardial window, and pericardiectomy. Chronic constrictive pericarditis is treated with pericardiectomy.     

连续性血液净化在ICU多器官功能障碍综合征合并急性肾衰竭患者的应用及预后分析

目的探讨连续性血液净化治疗（CBPT）在ICU多器官功能障碍综合征（MODS）合并急性肾衰竭（APF）患者的疗效及影响预后的相关因素。方法回顾性分析2004年1月至2008年2月该院ICU中行连续性静-静脉血液滤过（CVVH）治疗的245例MODS合并ARF患者一般资料、血液生化检查、疾病严重程度评分等，对比分析CVVH治疗前后临床参数的变化及影响预后的因素。结果CVVH对容量负荷、溶质清除效果明显；反映疾病严重程度如氧合指数、APACHEⅡ评分、MODS评分、SOFA评分CVVH治疗前后比较无明显差异；全部患者死亡率为64．9％，病死率随着衰竭器官数目的增加而显著升高。多因素回归分析显示，患者CVVH治疗前衰竭器官数、医院获得性ARF、CVVH前APACHEⅡ评分、平均动脉压是独立危险因素。结论对于MODS合并ARF患者，CVVH治疗前患者疾病的严重程度是影响预后的重要因素，依据患者临床病情早期积极CBPT可能改善MODS合并ARF患者的预后。     

Acute renal failure in the intensive care unit

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common complication in critically ill patients, with ARF requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) developing in approximately 5 to 10% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ARF is an independent risk factor for mortality. Interventions to prevent the development of ARF are currently limited to a small number of settings, primarily radiocontrast nephropathy and rhabdomyolysis. There are no effective pharmacological agents for the treatment of established ARF. Renal replacement therapy remains the primary treatment for patients with severe ARF; however, the data guiding selection of modality of RRT and the optimal timing of initiation and dose of therapy are inconclusive. This review focuses on the epidemiology and diagnostic approach to ARF in the ICU and summarizes our current understanding of therapeutic approaches including RRT.     

Pericardial diseases

Opinion statement Pericardial diseases have multiple clinical presentations with acute and chronic complications. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment markedly enhance the chance of complete resolution of the hemodynamic complications of pericardial disease. The treatment of patients with acute idiopathic pericarditis is mainly to alleviate symtoms of chest pain. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent such as indomethacin is our first drug of choice. Therapy is effective and symptoms resolve within 24 to 48 hours. In patients with chronic recurrent idiopathic pericarditis, we advise the use of colchicine at 1 mg/d. Constrictive pericarditis is a progressive disease and surgical pericardiectomy is the only definite treatment. It should be performed early in the disease process before myocardial fibrosis occurs. Cardiac tamponade is a cardiac emergency and patients should be treated promptly. We often start with volume expansion with intravenous fluid in preparation for transcutaneous pericardiocentesis. Echocardiographically guided, transcutaneous pericardiocentesis is the procedure of choice. Patients with asymptomatic pericardial effusion are followed with serial echocardiography, and reserve drainage for enlarging effusions if there are signs of cardiac compression.     

Kontinuierliche Nierenersatztherapie in der Behandlung des akuten Nierenversagens: Geschichte und Entwicklung

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication in patients with multiple organ failure and sepsis leading to a significant increase of mortality in these critically ill patients (50– 70%). While for years, ARF was considered an unavoidable complication of multiple organ failure and thus not essential for the progress, various studies in recent years have shown an independent and fundamental influence of ARF and therefore its therapy on the survival of the patient. In the late 1970s continuous forms of treatment were introduced into the intensive care units. The first form of this treatment option was continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH), primarily developed for the treatment of overhydrated patients resistant to diuretics. Using pump driven forms of the treatment, such as venovenous hemofiltration or venovenous dialysis (CVVHD), nearly all patients can be treated sufficiently. CAVH in the early 1980s rarely exceeded a daily hemofiltrate of 8–15 L, while more recent randomized studies have shown that CVVH should be performed with an exchange amount of at least 35 ml/kg/h, which corresponds to a daily exchange of 60–80 L. With the abandonment of arterial puncture and the use of specialized equipment including CVVH machines, allowing a distinct balance in these critically ill, the most important disadvantages of the formerly used CAVH are eliminated but have also led to a loss of simplicity of the method. Scientific work in the next decade should focus on (local) anticoagulation and determination of the optimal amounts of hemofiltrate for different diseases.     

Uremic pericarditis as a cause of cardiac tamponade.

Uremic pericarditis may complicate either acute or, more commonly, chronic renal failure. When dialysis is not employed, uremic pericarditis is usually a preterminal event and is characterized by a serofibrinous exudation of an amount inadequate to cause cardiac tamponade. Nevertheless, cardiac tamponade may uncommonly be observed in nondialyzed patients. Cardiac tamponade, which may be life-threatening, is more common in dialyzed than in nondialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. The primary causes of cardiac tamponade in uremic pericarditis in order of decreasing frequency are (1) pericardial effusion, usually of the serosanguineous type, (2) massive hemorrhage into the pericardial sac and (3) collagenization of pericardial exudate. From pathologic evidence, the following forms of therapy appear appropriate to manage uremic pericarditis that has reached the stage of causing cardiac tamponade. For effusion, pericardiocentesis or parietal pericardiectomy are logical procedures. Massive hemorrhage into the pericardial sac is usually attended by clotting and requires pericardiotomy and evacuation of clot. Collagenization of exudate yields an encasing, fibrous shell over the heart and requires decortication, as is practised in classical constrictive pericarditis.     

Unusual cardiac complications of Wegener's granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis most commonly involves the sinuses, lungs and kidneys with necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis. In 12 percent of a large series of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis there was cardiac involvement, largely manifested by pericarditis and coronary arteritis. We present three patients with this disease who developed unusual cardiac complications. Patient 1 had renal failure requiring hemodialysis, pericardial tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis, and later developed constrictive pericarditis requiring pericardiectomy. Patient 2 developed pericarditis and high grade atrioventricular block, and patient 3 developed pericarditis and atrial tachycardia resistant to pharmacologic and transesophageal atrial pacing methods. All three patients greatly improved with cyclophosphamide therapy. The rhythm disturbances seen in patients 2 and 3 were attributed to coronary arteritis. The renal failure in patient 1 was due to Wegener's granulomatosis, but whether the constrictive pericarditis was due to uremic pericarditis or the pericarditis of Wegener's granulomatosis is uncertain. As patients with Wegener's granulomatosis live longer with cyclophosphamide therapy and because inpatient arrhythmia monitoring and recording has become more widespread, these uncommon manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis may be seen more often.     

10 Comparison of Four Prognostic Indexes in Severe Acute Renal Failure

Background Several prognostic indexes and models are in use for acute renal failure (ARF) patients in intensive care units (ICU). Some were designed on general ICU populations (like APACHE II) and some were made specifically for ICU patients with ARF. The purpose of our prospective clinical study was to compare APACHE II and three ARF‐specific prognostic indexes in their ability to discriminate survivors and non‐survivors among critically ill ARF patients requiring dialysis. Methods Forty‐four critically ill patients with ARF requiring dialysis were included. Patients with chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine > 200 µmol/L), transplanted kidney or urinary tract obstruction were excluded. Four prognostic indexes were measured at the time of first dialysis: APACHE II score (0–71), Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) score (0–20), predicted mortality by Mehta and by Liano model. Primary end‐points were ICU survival and recovery of renal function. Results Patients were 65 ± 5 years old, 75% were male, 50% recovered renal function (22/44). Mean APACHE II score was 21.9 ± 6.5, CCF score was 9.2 ± 2.5, predicted mortality by Mehta model was 64 ± 5% and by Liano model 47 ± 20%. Patients that recovered renal function and those that died in ARF did not differ significantly in any of the prognostic indexes measured. Intensive Care Unit survival data was available for 32 patients, this group was not significantly different in prognostic indexes from the group for which ICU survival data was not available. Intensive Care Unit mortality was 75% (24/32). There was significant difference in APACHE II value in ICU survivors and non‐survivors (16.6 ± 6.1 vs. 23.4 ± 6.5, P = 0.015), but no difference in the other three indexes. Conclusions Only the APACHE II values measured at first dialysis were significantly different between ICU survivors and non‐survivors, whereas other three prognostic indexes were not.     

Prevention of acute renal failure

Acute renal failure (ARF) comprises a family of syndromes that is characterized by an abrupt and sustained decrease in the glomerular filtration rate. In the ICU, ARF is most often due to sepsis and other systemic inflammatory states. ARF is common among the critically ill and injured and significantly adds to morbidity and mortality of these patients. Despite many advances in medical technology, the mortality and morbidity of ARF in the ICU continue to remain high and have not improved significantly over the past 2 decades. Primary strategies to prevent ARF still include adequate hydration, maintenance of mean arterial pressure, and minimizing nephrotoxin exposure. Diuretics and dopamine have been shown to be ineffective in the prevention of ARF or improving outcomes once ARF occurs. Increasing insight into mechanisms leading to ARF and the importance of facilitating renal recovery has prompted investigators to evaluate the role of newer therapeutic agents in the prevention of ARF.     

Improvement of nursing quality and outcome in intensive care patients with acute kidney failure

Collaboration between the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and nephrology nurses is needed to ensure adequate care of critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF). To improve this collaboration a questionnaire was circulated to the 122 ICU nurses in the hospital to appraise their knowledge on ARF. A Refresher Course to update on ARF was then organised. Colleagues' interest in the initiative was elevated: 66% of questionnaires were completed which included 88% of nurses attending the course. The experience showed, through measurable results, that team work is essential to collaborative nursing plans. The initiative allowed improvement in the quality of nurses' communication and was accompanied with a significant reduction in short-term mortality rate of dialyzed ARF patients (45 versus 50%; p = 0.045, chi-square test). Despite the limitations of this short period of observation one year) the results are judged as useful. Collaboration ensures support for colleagues on a daily basis and during critical moments and can encourage appreciation of the nursing profession.     

The epidemiology of acute respiratory failure in critically ill patients(*)

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe the risk factors for the development of and mortality resulting from acute respiratory failure (ARF) in a large patient population. DESIGN: A substudy of a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study, which was designed to validate the sequential organ failure assessment score. SETTING: Forty ICUs in 16 countries. PATIENTS: All critically ill patients who were admitted to one of the participating ICUs during a 1-month period were observed until the end of their hospital course. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Of the 1,449 patients who were enrolled into the study, 458 (32%) were admitted to an ICU with ARF, as defined by a PaO(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of < 200 mm Hg and the need for respiratory support. Patients who presented with ARF were older than the other patients (63 vs 57 years, respectively; p < 0.001) and more commonly had an infection (47% vs 20%, respectively; p < 0.001). The length of ICU stay was longer (6 vs 4 days, respectively; p < 0.001) and the ICU mortality rate was more than double (34% vs 16%, respectively; p < 0.001) in ARF patients compared to non-ARF patients. Of the 991 patients who were admitted to an ICU without ARF, 352 (35%) developed ARF later during the ICU stay. The independent risk factors for the development of ARF were infection developing in the ICU (odds ratio [OR], 7.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.08 to 11.33) or present on ICU admission (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.68 to 3.16), the presence of neurologic failure on ICU admission (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.90 to 3.91), and older age (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.30 to 2.22). Of all 810 patients with ARF, 253 (31%) died. The independent risk factors for death were multiple organ failure following ICU admission, history of hematologic malignancy, chronic renal failure or liver cirrhosis, the presence of circulatory shock on ICU admission, the presence of infection, and older age. CONCLUSIONS: The present study stresses that ARF is common in the ICU (56% of all patients) and that a number of extrapulmonary factors are related to the risk of development of ARF and to mortality rate in these patients.     

Primary acute pericardial disease: a prospective series of 231 consecutive patients

A series of 231 patients with "primary" acute pericardial disease (acute pericarditis or tamponade presenting without an apparent cause) were studied according to the following protocol: general clinical and laboratory studies (stage I), pericardiocentesis (stage II), pericardial biopsy (stage III) and blind antituberculous therapy (stage IV). In 32 patients (14%) a specific etiologic diagnosis was obtained (13 with neoplasia, 9 with tuberculosis, 4 with collagen vascular disease, 2 with toxoplasmosis, 2 with purulent pericarditis and 2 with viral pericarditis). "Diagnostic" pericardiocentesis (32 patients) was performed when clinical activity and effusion persisted for longer than 1 week or when purulent pericarditis was suspected, whereas "therapeutic" pericardiocentesis (44 patients) was performed to treat tamponade; their diagnostic yield was 6% and 29%, respectively. "Diagnostic" biopsy (20 patients) was carried out when illness persisted for longer than 3 weeks, whereas "therapeutic" biopsy was performed whenever pericardiocentesis failed to relieve tamponade; their diagnostic yield was 5% and 54%, respectively. The diagnostic yield difference between "diagnostic" and "therapeutic" procedures was significant (p less than 0.001); in contrast, the global diagnostic yield of pericardiocentesis (19%) and biopsy (22%) was similar. At the end of follow-up (1 to 76 months, mean 31 +/- 20), no patient in whom a diagnosis of idiopathic pericarditis had been made showed signs of pericardial disease. It is concluded that a "diagnostic" procedure is not warranted as a routine method, a choice between "therapeutic" pericardiocentesis and biopsy is circumstantial and must be individualized, and only through a systematic approach can a substantial diagnostic yield be reached in primary acute pericardial disease.     

Effusive-constrictive hemodynamic pattern due to neoplastic involvement of the pericardium

Eight patients with metastatic malignancy of the pericardium who demonstrated the hemodynamics of subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis were studied. All patients had clinical evidence of cardiac tamponade due to malignant pericardial effusion and were referred for therapeutic pericardiocentesis. In six in whom pericardiocentesis was successfully performed, right atrial pressure remained elevated after pericardiocentesis and return of the intrapericardial pressure to zero; in these patients, hemodynamic data were initially compatible with tamponade but suggested constriction after removal of the pericardial fluid. In the remaining two patients, echocardiography revealed pericardial fluid, but attempted pericardiocentesis was unsuccessful. In these two patients, the hemodynamic data suggested pericardial constriction; subsequent pathologic examination revealed neoplastic involvement of the visceral pericardium. Thus, subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis, previously recognized as a complication of tuberculosis or mediastinal radiation, may also be due to metastatic malignancy. The syndrome can readily be demonstrated when right heart catheterization is performed in conjunction with pericardiocentesis.     

Neoplastic pericarditis--the role of different diagnostic procedures

The aim of the study was to assess the role of different diagnostic procedures in the recognition of malignant pericarditis. Consecutive medical records of the patients with pericardial effusion treated with pericardiocentesis or pericardioscopy in the period of 1982-2002 were analyzed retrospectively. Criteria of neoplastic pericarditis were: positive result of pericardial fluid cytology and/or neoplastic infiltration found in pericardial biopsy specimen. Criteria of non-neoplastic pericarditis were: negative result of pericardial fluid cytology and pericardial biopsy specimen, no neoplastic disease diagnosed at presentation and during 3-years of follow up. Malignant pericarditis was diagnosed in 47 patients (pts), nonmalignant in 51. Echocardiographic signs of cardiac tamponade were found in 80% of pts with neoplastic pericarditis and 40% of pts with non-malignant disease (p = 0.0001). Chest CT scan revealed the presence of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in 94% of pts with malignant pericarditis and only 11% of pts with non-malignant disease (p = 0.00001). Pericardial thickness on CT scan exceeded 8 mm in 75% of the pts with malignant pericarditis and 8% of pts with nonmalignant disease (p = 0.0003). Pericardial fluid (pf) CEA concentration was significantly higher in the patients with neoplastic pericarditis than in the pts with non-malignant process. CEA > 5 ng/ml and Cyfra 21-1>50 ng/ml were found in 43% of the pts with malignant pericarditis and none of the pts with benign pericarditis. Thus we recommend chest CT scan and pericardial fluid tumor markers (CEA and Cyfra 21-1) assessment as the procedures helpful in the recognition of malignant pericarditis.     

Pericardial effusion and tamponade

Pericardial effusion may occur as a result of a variety of clinical conditions, including viral, bacterial, or fungal infections and inflammatory, postinflammatory, autoreactive, and neoplastic processes. More common causes of pericardial effusion and tamponade include malignancy, renal failure, viral and bacterial infectious processes, radiation, aortic dissection, and hypothyroidism. It can also occur after trauma or acute myocardial infarction (as in postpericardiotomy syndrome following cardiac or thoracic surgery) or as an idiopathic pericardial effusion. Although pericardial effusion is common in patients with connective tissue disease, cardiac tamponade is rare. Among medical patients, malignant disease is the most common cause of pericardial effusion with tamponade. Table 1 shows the causes of pericardial tamponade. The effusion fluid may be serous, suppurative, hemorrhagic, or serosanguineous. The pericardial fluid can be a transudate (typically occurring in patients with congestive heart failure) or an exudate. The latter type, which contains a high concentration of proteins and fibrin, can occur with any type of pericarditis, severe infections, or malignancy. Once the diagnosis of pericardial effusion has been made, it is important to determine whether the effusion is creating significant hemodynamic compromise. Asymptomatic patients without hemodynamic compromise, even with large pericardial effusions, do not need to be treated with pericardiocentesis unless there is a need for fluid analysis for diagnostic purposes (eg, in acute bacterial pericarditis, tuberculosis, and neoplasias). The diagnosis of pericardial effusion/tamponade relies on a strong clinical suspicion and is confirmed by echocardiography or other pericardial imaging modalities. Alternatively, when the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade is made, there is a need for emergency drainage of pericardial fluid by pericardiocentesis or surgery to relieve the hemodynamic compromise. Following pericardiocentesis, it is necessary to prevent recurrence of tamponade. Intrapericardial injection of sclerosing agents, surgical pericardiotomy, and percutaneous balloon pericardial window creation are techniques used to prevent reaccumulation of pericardial fluid and recurrence of cardiac tamponade.     

连续性静脉-静脉血液滤过治疗对急性肾衰竭患者血流动学监测指标的影响

目的 探讨连续性静脉-静脉血液滤过(CVVH)治疗对使用脉搏指示连续心排血量(PiCCO)监测仪测得的血流动力学监测指标心脏指数(CI)、全心舒张末期容积指数(GEDI)、血管外肺水指数(ELWI)的影响.方法 选择北京医院重症监护病房(ICU)收治的并发急性肾衰竭的危重症老年患者12例,使用PiCCO监测仪对实施CVVH治疗的患者进行血流动力学监测,每例患者分别在暂停血滤期间及血滤进行中进行检测,并记录所测得数据.采用配对双侧t检验比较暂停血滤期间及血滤进行中两组CI、GEDI、ELWI的差异.结果 患者12例,共获取数据48组.测得暂停血滤期间及血滤进行中CI的平均值分别为(4.75±0.93)L·min(-1)·m(-2)及(4.69±0.89)L·min(-1)·m(-2),GEDI的平均值分别为(780.60±109.30)ml/m2及(784.75±106.20)ml/m2,ELWI的平均值分别为(11.61±3.45)ml/kg及(11.54±3.56)ml/kg,经配对t检验差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 CVVH不影响PiCCO血流动力学监测指标CI、GEDI、ELWI的准确性和可靠性.     

Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration for the treatment of contrast-induced acute renal failure after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Acute renal failure (ARF) requiring hemodialysis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is a serious complication with poor prognosis. Hemodialysis-induced hypotension may have deleterious cardiovascular effects, especially in high-risk patients. Ultrafiltrate removal and simultaneous fluid replacement with a solution similar to plasma for high-volume controlled hydration can be obtained with hemodynamic stability by continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). We prospectively assessed the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous CVVH (Y-shaped double-lumen catheter, circuit originating from and terminating in the femoral vein) in 33 consecutive patients (23 men and 10 women; mean age, 69 +/- 9 years) who, after PCI, developed oligo-anuric ARF, associated in 20 of them with congestive heart failure. All patients received a concomitant infusion of furosemide (500-1000 mg/day) and dopamine (2 microg/kg/min). During CVVH, the average fluid volume replacement and body fluid net reduction were 1000 +/- 247 and 75 +/- 48 ml/hr, respectively. Treatment with CVVH continued for 4.7 +/- 2.7 days and corrected fluid overload in all cases. No patient experienced systemic hypotension or hypovolemia. Diuresis recovered in 32 (97%) patients, who showed a parallel improvement of renal function parameters. One patient required chronic dialysis. In-hospital and 1-year mortality was 9.1% and 27.3%, respectively. In conclusion, our data indicate that CVVH is a safe and effective therapy of radiocontrast-induced ARF following PCI. It temporarily replaces renal function without deleterious cardiovascular effects, allowing the kidney to recover from the nephrotoxic injury. However, despite promising early results, large randomized trials are required to define the role of CVVH in ARF after PCI.     

New directions in diagnosis and treatment of pericardial disease. A project of the Taskforce on Pericardial Disease of the World Heart Federation

New directions in the diagnosis and treatment of pericardial diseases synthesize the achievements of modern imaging with molecular biology and immunology techniques. Comprehensive and systematic implementation of new techniques of pericardiocentesis, pericardial fluid analysis, pericardioscopy, epicardial and pericardial biopsy, as well the application of comprehensive molecular biology and immunology techniques for pericardial fluid and biopsy analyses have opened new windows to the pericardial diseases, permitting early specific diagnosis and creating foundations for etiologic treatment in many cases. In patients with recurrent pericarditis, resistant to conventional treatments, as well as in patients with neoplastic pericarditis an alternative intrapericardial treatment regimen was suggested by the Taskforce on Pericardial Diseases of the World Heart Federation. Intrapericardial application of medication avoids systemic side effects with increased local efficacy. The following protocols are proposed: CIRP (colchicine in recurrent pericarditis)--colchicine vs placebo in chronic/recurring pericarditis without pericardiocentesis; TRIPE (triamcinolone in pericardial effusion)--intrapericardial instillation of triamcinolone + 6 months colchicine vs pericardial puncture without instillation + 6 months colchicine; NEPIN (neoplastic effusion and pericardial instillation)--pericardiocentesis and drainage + intrapericardial instillation of cisplatin or thiotepa.     

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration in the elderly patients

The outcome of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) treatment was evaluated in fifty one critically ill elderly with acute renal failure (ARF). They were admitted into our University Hospital's intensive-care units (ICU) during January 1987 and December 1990. Mean age (± SD) was 70.7 ± 5 (range 65–84) years. Elderly patients (>65 years old) comprised 44% of the ICU-ARF patients. The causes of ARF were cardiac surgery (41%), medical (31%), aneurysm of the resection of abdominal aorta (20%), and general surgery (8%). In the majority of the patients ARF was complicated by multiple organ failure. A survival of 60% was obtained with CAVH treatment. The highest survival rate (69%) was noted among cardiac surgery ARF patients, while the lowest survival (25%) was seen among patients with ARF following aneurysm of the resection of abdominal aorta. From the results of this study we conclude that CAVH serves a benificial role if it is considered in the management of ARF in the elderly intensive care patients with multiple organ failure.