Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe cellular and molecular mechanisms at the base of acute kidney injury pathophysiology. 2. Detail alterations occurring at genetic, histologic, tubular, glomerular, and vascular levels. 3. Describe the role of nephrotoxins, inflammation, and organ cross-talk…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Present the scientific rationale for renal stem cell and progenitor cell therapy. 2. Describe an extracorporeal approach to renal cell replacement therapy. 3. Present the scientific basis of continuous cell processing in an extracorporeal device.…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe the main aspects of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit and functionality. 2. Describe the indication to start and to stop ECMO for pulmonary support. 3. Detail the currently available literature. 4. Acknowledge limitations…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe the general configuration and operating principles of a venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system. 2. Review the main indications for starting and stopping ECMO. 3. Detail specific pathophysiologic conditions of ECMO patients. 4. Discuss…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe the possibility of combining convection, diffusion, and adsorption to improve the efficiency of extracorporeal depurative techniques. 2. Discuss the role of plasma as a substrate and a medium of blood purification. 3. Describe the…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe the role of endotoxin in sepsis. 2. Discuss diagnostic approaches to endotoxin measurement. 3. Describe the history of endotoxin-targeted therapy in sepsis, from drugs to medical devices. 4. Discuss the characteristics of the Toraymyxin…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Provide a description of the Prometheus extracorporeal liver support system. 2. Summarize available clinical data of Prometheus. 3. Compare Prometheus with MARS procedures. 4. Discuss the method, results, and possible indications. Patients with liver failure…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Discuss the use of extracorporeal blood purification techniques within the clinical picture of sepsis. 2. Provide a rationale based on in vitro and animal studies for the use of coupled plasmafiltration-adsorption in human sepsis. 3.…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Identify pathophysiologic considerations for the application of therapeutic apheresis. 2. Describe the role and application of apheresis in critical care medicine. 3. List advantages and drawbacks of selective apheresis systems compared with plasma exchange. 4.…
Objectives This chapter will: 1. Describe the nature, the structure, and the composition of sorbent materials. 2. Characterize the mechanisms of the adsorption process. 3. Describe the potential application of sorbents in extracorporeal blood purification techniques. 4. Summarize some of…