What is CRRT, and how does it help?

CRRT is a type of blood purification therapy used with patients who are experiencing AKI. During this therapy, a patient’s blood passes through a special filter that removes fluid and uremic toxins, returning clean blood to the body. The slow and continuous nature of the process, typically performed over a 24-hour period, allows patients with unstable blood pressure and heart rates, which is termed hemodynamically unstable, to better tolerate this process.

There are six medical products required to perform CRRT on a patient: 

Blood purification machine: the machine pumps the blood, controls the rate of blood flow and includes software to safely monitor therapy delivery

Dialysate: a fluid that carries toxins away from the filter

Replacement fluid: a specialized, sterile fluid also used to flush toxins from the body but also to replace electrolytes, other blood elements and volume lost during the filtration process

Filter: machine component that removes fluid and uremic toxins

Anticoagulation method: a type of drug that helps the blood flow through the system, lessening the likelihood that the blood will clot in the filter

Blood warmer: efficiently maintains a patient's blood temperature during blood purification therapy