Hemodialysis membrane with a high-molecular-weight cutoff and cytokine levels in sepsis complicated by acute renal failure: a phase 1 randomized trial.

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of acute renal failure. Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) is a common treatment for patients with acute renal failure. However, standard hemodialysis membranes achieve only little diffusive removal of circulating cytokines.

The SAFE study: a landmark trial of the safety of albumin in intensive care.

High-quality primary evidence from an Australian and New Zealand study provides a definitive answer.

A comparison of albumin and saline for fluid resuscitation in the intensive care unit.

Background: It remains uncertain whether the choice of resuscitation fluid for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) affects survival. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial to compare the effect of fluid resuscitation with albumin or saline on mortality in a heterogeneous population of patients in the ICU.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients who had been admitted to the ICU to receive either 4 percent albumin or normal saline for intravascular-fluid resuscitation during the next 28 days.

Appropriateness of red blood cell transfusion in Australasian intensive care practice.

Objective: To determine the incidence and appropriateness of use of allogenic packed red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in Australian and New Zealand intensive care practice.

Setting: Intensive care units of 18 Australian and New Zealand hospitals: March 2001.

Design: Prospective, observational, multicentre study.