The use of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in the management of life-threatening bronchospasm due to influenza infection.

We report the use of the Novalung interventional Lung Assist extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal device, (Novalung GmbH, Lotzenacker 3, D-72379 Hechingen, Germany) to treat a 46-year-old female with life-threatening bronchospasm secondary to influenza infection. Despite maximal treatment she developed severe hypercapnia and acidosis. The necessity for high inflation pressures led to the development of gross surgical emphysema. Use of the interventional Lung Assist enabled a rapid correction of hypercapnoea and acidosis, allowing a reduction in airway pressures, reducing further barotrauma. Subsequent resolution of the inflammatory process allowed removal of the interventional Lung Assist after 11 days. She was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and made a full recovery.

Renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure: a survey of practice in adult intensive care units in the United Kingdom.

This study surveyed current practice in adult intensive care units in the United Kingdom in three key areas of renal replacement therapy when used for acute renal failure: type of therapy used, typical treatment dose and anticoagulation. Responses were received from 303 (99%) of the 306 intensive care units. 269 units (89%) provide renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure. Most (65%) use continuous veno-venous haemofiltration as first-line therapy in the majority of patients, though continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration is used by 31% of units. For haemofiltration, the median typical treatment dose (interquartile range [range]) is 32 ml.kg(-1).h(-1) (28.6-35.7 [14.3-85.7]), with 49% using a treatment dose of 35 ml.kg(-1).h(-1) or greater. For haemodiafiltration, the median typical treatment dose (interquartile range [range]) is 44 ml.kg(-1).h(-1) (28.6-57.1 [21.4-120.7]), with 67% using a treatment dose of 35 ml.kg(-1).h(-1) or greater. The vast majority of intensive care units use intravenous unfractionated heparin (96%) or epoprostenol (88%) for anticoagulation. Dosage and monitoring of these two agents vary markedly between units. No units use citrate anticoagulation. These results reveal a wide variety of practice in the delivery of renal replacement therapy between intensive care units in the United Kingdom.