Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a modality of renal replacement therapy using a patient’s peritoneal cavity and extensive capillary vasculature as a dialysis membrane. The concept is exactly the same as hemodialysis (HD); both involve the transport of solutes and…
Background Percutaneous nephrostomy tubes (PCNs) are placed through the skin directly into a portion of the kidney, hence the name (percutaneous = pertaining to through the skin; nephrostomy = making an opening in the kidney). This procedure has four broad…
Background There are several means of vascular access through which hemodialysis (HD) can be performed, including catheters, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), and arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). These accesses provide the means for large-bore cannulas to be placed, usually in both an artery…
Background Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and can consist of continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), or continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). Each of these procedures involves the slow…