Indications for Dialysis in the ICU: Renal Replacement vs. Renal Support

Although the management of acute renal failure (ARF) constitutes a major component of the activities of practicing nephrologists, minimal information is available on the dialysis techniques utilized to treat ARF in the USA. It is evident from several recent publications that there are wide variations in the dialytic and nondialytic management of ARF. In order to obtain a better understanding of the current practice for dialytic management of ARF, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Council on Dialysis commissioned a survey of NKF members. This article describes the results of this survey and provides a snapshot of the current management practices for ARF. It is our hope that this information will provide a baseline for further research in this area.