What influences interruption of continuous renal replacement therapy in intensive care unit patients: A review with meta-analysis on outcome variables.

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that 8%-10% of ICU patients receive renal replacement therapy. However, there is a high rate of unplanned CRRT interruption, ranging between 17% and 74%. Studies on unplanned interruption of CRRT mainly focused on the retrospective investigation of related risk factors and conclusions have been diverse.

Aim: This article aims to clarify the main influencing factors related to unplanned interruption of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

Study design: A literature review and meta-analysis were undertaken. Following the application of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), a total of 15 articles were included in a total of 2132 patients who underwent 3690 CRRT procedures and 2181 unplanned interruption times. The methodological guideline of a scoping review was applied for the evidence synthesis while applying the meta-analysis quantitative methodological guideline to identify and clarify main influencing factors related to unplanned interruption of CRRT. The reporting Prisma Protocol was followed.

Results: Longer filter life and prothrombin activation time, higher red blood cell count, greater transmembrane pressure, faster blood flow rate, intermittent saline irrigation, lower creatinine level, low prothrombin activity and pre-dilution are factors identified to potentially affect unplanned CRRT in ICU patients.

Conclusions: Available evidence suggests four clinical challenges associated with unplanned CRRT interruption, namely: (a) effects of red blood cell count, filter life, cross-mode pressure, blood flow velocity, prothrombin activity and activated partial thrombin time on unplanned interruption; (b) influence of dilution mode on unplanned interruption; (c) influence of intermittent saline irrigation on unplanned interruption; (d) influence of Scr level on unplanned interruption.

Relevance to clinical practice: The potential to increase the ability to better manage unplanned CRRT in ICUs has been identified in this article and constitutes a relevant potential health care management contribution that can be implemented by nurses.