HIGH-DOSE FRUSEMIDE IN ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE - A CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Patients (58) in established acute renal failure after trauma or surgery were allocated in a prospective and random fashion to 2 different diuretic regimes. In the control group, 1 g frusemide was given as a single injection over 4 h. In the test group, frusemide was then continued i.v. or orally in a dose of 3 g/24 h until a urine output of 200 ml/h was sustained, or until the plasma creatinine fell < 300 .mu.mol/l. Oliguria was reversed or prevented in 24 of 28 patients given sustained frusemide, but in only 2 patients given a single injection. The number of dialyses and duration of renal failure and mortality were not different in the 2 groups. The serious complication of deafness occurred in 2 patients, and, in 1 of them, this was permanent.