Challenges for sustainable end-stage kidney disease care in low-middle-income countries: the problem of the workforce.

Prevention and early detection of kidney diseases in adults and children should be a priority for any government health department. This is particularly pertinent in the low-middle-income countries, mostly in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where up to 7 million people die because of lack of end-stage kidney disease treatment. The nephrology workforce (nurses, technicians, and doctors) is limited in these countries and expanding the size and expertise of the workforce is essential to permit expansion of treatment for both chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. To achieve this will require sustained action and commitment from governments, academic medical centers, local nephrology societies, and the international nephrology community.

Development of a framework for minimum and optimal safety and quality standards for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Substantial heterogeneity in practice patterns around the world has resulted in wide variations in the quality and type of dialysis care delivered. This is particularly so in countries without universal standards of care and governmental (or other organizational) oversight. Most high-income countries have developed such oversight based on documentation of adherence to standardized, evidence-based guidelines. Many low- and lower-middle-income countries have no or only limited organized oversight systems to ensure that care is safe and effective. The implementation and oversight of basic standards of care requires sufficient infrastructure and appropriate workforce and financial resources to support the basic levels of care and safety practices. It is important to understand how these standards then can be reasonably adapted and applied in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Long-term outcome in ICU patients with acute kidney injury treated with renal replacement therapy: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In intensive care unit (ICU) patients, acute kidney injury treated with renal replacement therapy (AKI-RRT) is associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate variables associated with long-term survival and kidney outcome and to assess the composite endpoint major adverse kidney events (MAKE; defined as death, incomplete kidney recovery, or development of end-stage renal disease treated with RRT) in a cohort of ICU patients with AKI-RRT. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, prospective observational study in a 50-bed ICU tertiary care hospital. During the study period from August 2004 through December 2012, all consecutive adult patients with AKI-RRT were included. Data were prospectively recorded during the patients' hospital stay and were retrieved from the hospital databases. Data on long-term follow-up were gathered during follow-up consultation or, in the absence of this, by consulting the general physician. RESULTS: AKI-RRT was reported in 1292 of 23,665 first ICU admissions (5.5 %). Mortality increased from 59.7 % at hospital discharge to 72.1 % at 3 years. A Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated an association of increasing age, severity of illness, and continuous RRT with long-term mortality. Among hospital survivors with reference creatinine measurements, 1-year renal recovery was complete in 48.4 % and incomplete in 32.6 %. Dialysis dependence was reported in 19.0 % and was associated with age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and oliguria at the time of initiation of RRT. MAKE increased from 83.1 % at hospital discharge to 93.7 % at 3 years. Multivariate regression analysis showed no association of classical determinants of outcome (preexisting CKD, timing of initiation of RRT, and RRT modality) with MAKE at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates poor long-term survival after AKI-RRT that was determined mainly by severity of illness and RRT modality at initiation of RRT. Renal recovery is limited, especially in patients with acute-on-chronic kidney disease, making nephrological follow-up imperative. MAKE is associated mainly with variables determining mortality.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in children with acute autoimmune central nervous system disorders.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing evidence for autoimmunity in acute central nervous system (CNS) disorders and treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) may be considered. The aim was to share our experience on the clinical application of TPE in these disorders and to present a reproducible protocol which can be used even in small children. METHODS: We present a series of 8 children aged 2-12 years with transverse myelitis, Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica, and acute paraneoplastic or unspecified encephalitis in whom TPE was used as a second-line or rescue treatment. RESULTS: A total of 104 TPE sessions were performed where 80-110 ml/kg of plasma was exchanged using 4% albumin solution and fresh frozen plasma. Six episodes of TPE-related adverse events were documented. Fibrinogen concentrations decreased after the first TPE, whereas platelets decreased gradually. One patient died in the course of the acute illness. Three children achieved a complete resolution of symptoms, 2 children have mild sequelae; whereas 2 children remain paraplegic after a follow-up of 3 to 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: We report 8 children with presumably autoimmune-mediated, acute CNS disorders treated with TPE as a rescue therapy. Although the effect of TPE can only be inferred, 5 children had a good clinical outcome. TPE is feasible even in small children with acute autoimmune CNS disorders.

Serum urea concentration is probably not related to outcome in ICU patients with AKI and renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Among other variables, serum urea concentrations are recommended for timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum urea concentration or different serum urea concentration cutoffs as recommended in the literature were associated with in-hospital mortality at time of initiation of RRT for AKI. METHODS: This is a retrospective single- centre study during a 3-year period (2004-07), in a 44-bed tertiary care centre ICU of adult AKI patients who were treated with RRT. RESULTS: Three hundred and two patients were included: 68.9% male, median age 65 years and an APACHE II score of 21. The overall in-hospital mortality was 57.9%. Non-survivors were older (67 versus 64 years, P = 0.016) and had a higher APACHE II score (22 versus 20, P < 0.001). At time of initiation of RRT, they were more severely ill and had a lower serum urea concentration compared to survivors (130 versus 141 mg/dL, P = 0.038). Serum urea concentration, as well as the different historical serum urea concentration cut-offs had low area under the curves for the receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of mortality. In multivariate analysis, age, and at time of initiation of RRT, potassium, SOFA score with exclusion of points for AKI and RIFLE class were associated with mortality, but serum urea concentration and the different cut-offs were not. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study suggests that serum urea concentration and serum urea concentration cut-offs at time of initiation of RRT have no predictive value for in-hospital mortality in ICU patients with AKI.

Epidemiology of infection in critically ill patients with acute renal failure.

OBJECTIVES: Critically ill patients with infection are at increased risk for developing acute renal failure (ARF), and ARF is associated with an increased risk for infection. Both conditions are associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) and worse outcome; however, little data exist on the epidemiology of infection in this specific cohort. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of infection in a cohort of critically ill patients with ARF treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT). In addition, we assessed whether this infection worsened outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: General intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic tertiary care center comprising a 22-bed surgical ICU, eight-bed cardiac surgery ICU, 14-bed medical ICU, and six-bed burn center. PATIENTS: Six hundred forty-seven consecutive critically ill patients with ARF treated with RRT, admitted between 2000 and 2004. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: total of 519 (80.2%), 193 (29.8%), 66 (10.2%), and ten (1.5%) patients developed one, two, three, and four episodes of infection, respectively. Of 788 episodes of infection observed, 364 (46.2%) occurred before, 318 (40.3%) during, and 106 (13.4%) after discontinuation of RRT. Pneumonia (54.3%) was most frequent, followed by intra-abdominal (11.9%) and urinary tract infections (9.7%). Infections were caused by Gram-negative organisms in 33.7%, Gram-positive organisms in 21.6%, and yeasts in 9.8%. Patients with infection had higher mortality (p = 0.04) and longer ICU and hospital LOS. They needed more vasoactive therapy and spent more time on mechanical ventilation and RRT (all p < 0.001) than patients without infection. After adjustment for potential confounders, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, age, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive therapy were associated with worse outcome, but infection was not. CONCLUSIONS: Infection occurred in four fifths of critically ill patients with ARF treated with RRT and was in an unadjusted analysis associated with longer LOS and higher mortality. After correction for other covariates, infection was no longer associated with in-hospital mortality.

Impact of local circumstances on outcome of renal casualties in major disasters.

BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of earthquakes, the cumulative incidence of crush-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is difficult to predict. Insight into factors determining this risk is indispensable to allow adequate logistical planning, which is a prerogative for success in disaster management. METHODS: Data of 88 crush-related AKI patients in the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake were collected and outcome measures were analysed. Then the findings were compared with the data of 596 crush-related AKI patients of the Marmara earthquake. RESULTS: The earthquake in Kashmir occurred in a rural area with lack of medical facilities and difficult transportation conditions while the earthquake in Marmara occurred in an urban area with more efficient transport possibilities. In Kashmir we reported fewer patients with treated AKI (1.2 AKI per 1000 deaths, 1.3 AKI per 1000 victims) than in Marmara (34.1 AKI per 1000 deaths; P < 0.001, 13.6 AKI per 1000 victims; P < 0.001). Time lag between earthquake and admission to hospitals was longer in Kashmir (5.8 +/- 5.8 days) than in Marmara (3.5 +/- 3.7 days; P < 0.001). The frequencies of fasciotomies (P < 0.001), amputations (P < 0.001) and dialysis (P = 0.005) were lower in Kashmir, than in Marmara AKI patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of treated AKI related to number of deaths or victims might differ substantially among earthquakes. Many factors may affect the frequency of AKI: hampered rescue and transport possibilities; destroyed medical facilities on the spot; availability or not of sophisticated therapeutic possibilities and structure of the buildings might all have impacted on different cumulative incidence between Kashmir and Marmara.

Health implications of antimicrobial resistance for patients with acute kidney injury and bloodstream infection.

Studies have produced conflicting findings on outcomes for patients with antimicrobial-resistant infection. This study evaluated whether infection with an antimicrobial-resistant organism affects outcome in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury treated with renal replacement therapy and whose clinical course is complicated with a nosocomial bloodstream infection. We found that infection with an antimicrobial-resistant organism did not adversely affect clinical outcome in this specific cohort, which already has a high mortality rate.

Studies on dialysate mixing in the Genius single-pass batch system for hemodialysis therapy.

BACKGROUND: The Genius single-pass batch system for hemodialysis contains a closed reservoir and dialysate circuit of 75 L dialysate. The unused dialysate is withdrawn at the top of the reservoir and the spent fluid is reintroduced into the container at the bottom. Although it has been claimed that both fractions remain unmixed during the dialysis session, no direct proof of this assumption has yet been provided. In the present study, we investigated whether contamination of the unused dialysate with uremic solutes occurred and at which time point it began. Two different dialysate temperatures were compared. METHODS: Ten chronic hemodialysis patients were dialyzed twice with the Genius system, with dialysate prepared at 37 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C, respectively. The sessions lasted 270 minutes with blood/dialysate flow set at 300 mL/min. Dialysate was sampled at 5, 60, 180, 210, 225, 230, 235, 240, 255, and 270 minutes both from the inlet and outlet dialysate line and blood was sampled from the arterial line predialysis, after 4 hours, and postdialysis. All samples were tested for osmolality, urea, creatinine, p-cresol, hippuric acid, and indoxyl sulfate. RESULTS: Uremic solutes appeared in the inlet dialysate line between 3 hours 50 minutes and 4 hours 10 minutes after the start of dialysis, corresponding to 68.6 and 74.7 L spent dialysate, respectively (37 degrees C vs. 38.5 degrees C; P = NS). No difference in the amount of removed solutes and in the serum levels was observed between 37 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C. A Kt/V of 1.17 +/- 0.20 and 1.18 +/- 0.26, respectively, was reached with the 37 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C dialysate temperature (P = NS). CONCLUSION: Contamination with uremic solutes occurred at the dialysate inlet only near the end of the session when small quantities of fresh dialysate were left in the container. Differences in dialysate temperature did not result in a different separation between used and unused dialysate, or in differences in removal of toxins or Kt/V.