Continuous renal replacement therapy and the COVID pandemic

Abstract

Severe COVID-19 illness and the consequent cytokine storm and vasodilatory shock commonly lead to ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). The need for renal replacement therapies (RRTs) in those with the most severe forms of AKI is considerable and risks overwhelming health-care systems at the peak of a surge. We detail the challenges and considerations involved in the preparation of a disaster response plan in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which dramatically increase demand for nephrology services. Taking careful inventory of all aspects of an RRT program (personnel, consumables, and machines) before a surge in RRT arises and developing disaster contingency protocol anticoagulation and for shared RRT models when absolutely necessary are paramount to a successful response to such a disaster.

Keywords: COVID-19; CRRT; SARS-CoV-2; acute kidney injury; disaster response; pandemic.