Maintaining Hemostability during Renal Therapy

Yale-educated internal physician Dr. Rex Mahnensmith is an award-winning doctor at the StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut. Dr. Rex Mahnensmith earned an ABIM Subspeciality Certification in Nephrology and has written several peer-reviewed papers on renal diseases and treatments. 

When determining the best course of treatment for kidney failure, nephrologists must balance between the duration of treatment and the level of hemostability maintained during treatment. To reduce hospitalization time for patients with chronic kidney disease, faster versions of intermittent rental therapy may be preferred. 

However, acute kidney injuries in critically ill patients often are treated with continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT). CRRT filters blood at a slower rate than other rental therapies, making it ideal for patients who are more sensitive to large fluctuations in fluids. 

This type of hemodialysis is considered safer for patients with high risks of hypotension. CRRT was first pioneered in the 1990s and uses a series of tubes and membranes to pass blood through a hemofilter, removing excess water and waste. To meet the needs of hospitals and dialysis patients, smaller and more economical versions of CRRT are currently in development.