Daily Haemodialysis in "Hypercatabolic" Acute Renal Failure

Abstract

Eight patients with acute "hypercatabolic" renal failure (daily plasma-urea increment exceeding 80 mg./ 100 ml.) were treated by daily hemodialysis until the commencement of the established diuretic phase; 7 patients survived. The technique of hemodialysis involved a modified twin-coli Kolff dialyser, run entirely by trained nursing staff. The twin coils were reused 4 to 10 times and 74 hemodialyses were performed with only 13 twin-coil units. Repeated access to the vascular system was obtained with indwelling femoral-venous catheters kept patent between dialysis with heparin-perfusion units.