Discontinuing CRRT in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

To the investigator's knowledge, no study has evaluated the impact of a standardized approach to de-escalation of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) in patients with AKI. Exposure to more frequent and higher intensity RRT has been associated with delayed renal recovery. There is scant evidence in the literature on benefit or harm associated with a standardized approach to de-escalation of CRRT on the outcomes of successful weaning of CRRT, impact on CRRT duration, renal recovery, safety and adverse events. Thus, this generates a clinical equipoise. Therefore, this study should help guide nephrologists and intensivists on the appropriate management of CRRT in patients with AKI.

This is a prospective quasi-experimental (before-after) study of patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit. It will be based on Good Clinical Practice Standards and performed under IRB supervision. This will be a quasi-experimental study design due to the nature of the intervention and the processes of care leading to making a clinical decision. Patients with AKI on CRRT will be prospectively recruited. Patients recruited during the first half of the study will be in the control arm where usual process of care will not be altered. After accrual, patients recruited for the second half will receive the intervention where discontinuation of CRRT will be guided by a set of criteria based on the patient's hemodynamic status and other factors. A decision tree form would be filled by one of the team members each day. This will increase adherence to the protocol and allow us to track reasons for not discontinuing CRRT when it is suggested to do so.

Patients will be approached within 24-36 hours of starting CRRT. Patients will be eligible for trial entry after the decision is made to pursue CRRT. Patients with provided informed consent will be accrued in the study.

The hypothesis is that the intervention arm will lead to earlier discontinuation of CRRT. This may translate to less treatment-associated adverse events, namely intradialytic hypotension, and potentially improve the chance of renal recovery. Investigators will collect data on persistent kidney dysfunction at 30 days after AKI as defined by persistent need for RRT or doubling of baseline creatinine.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of acute kidney injury
• Being started on continuous renal replacement therapy

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of chronic kidney disease stage 5 or end-stage renal disease
• Having received a kidney transplant
• Moribund patients (who are expected to die within 1 day of CRRT initiation)
• Presence of an intoxication requiring extracorporeal removal
• RRT within the previous 1 month
• Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis