Treatment of acute renal failure in an infant by continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis.

Continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis (CAVHD) was performed in a critically ill oliguric infant with progressive uremia using a miniature Amicon hemofilter. Modification was made in the filter system by circulating 2.5% Dianeal peritoneal dialysis fluid into the second port of the ultrafiltrate compartment to enable the filter to function by dialysis too (CAVHD). In comparison with continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH), CAVHD provided superior urea clearance and adequate fluid removal, allowing the simultaneous administration of parenteral nutrition. The higher solute clearances in CAVHD make the technique superior to CAVH for renal replacement therapy in critically ill infants.