In the continuing dispute about the superiority of either intermittent or continuous renal replacement therapy for the critically ill, hybrid methods such as sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) combining the advantages of both modalities--that is, excellent hemodynamic stability and low costs--receive growing attention. The study by Schwenger and colleagues is the first randomized trial in...

We report the case of a 46-yr-old male who developed severe lactic acidosis, cardiorespiratory arrest, and rhabdomyolysis following an overdose of metformin and ramipril. The lactic acidosis was successfully treated with early high-volume continuous veno-venous haemofiltration. Rhabdomyolysis and lower limb compartment syndrome developed later. The patient otherwise made a good recovery. We dis...

Introduction Metformin is frequently used by type II diabetics. A rare complication of its use is metformin associated lactic acidosis (MALA). This condition is often accompanied by extreme metabolic acidosis and hemodynamic instability for which ICU treatment is mandatory. Guidelines advice intermittent hemodialysis for correction of metabolic acidosis and to clear metformin. However, haemodyn...

The management of patients with concomitant xenobiotic toxicity and multisystem trauma can be complex. While hemodialysis is generally the modality of choice for extracorporeal elimination of salicylates, the potential for large volume shifts and hypotension may pose a risk in patients with traumatic brain injury. An alternative therapy to hemodialysis is continuous renal replacement therapy, w...

OBJECTIVE To test the ability of a novel super high-flux (SHF) membrane with a larger pore size to clear myoglobin from serum. SETTING The intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. SUBJECT A patient with serotonin syndrome complicated by severe rhabodomyolysis and oliguric acute renal failure. METHOD Initially continuous veno-venous hemofiltration was performed at 2 l/hour ul...