Early isovolaemic haemofiltration in oliguric patients with septic shock

To evaluate the effects of early short-term, isovolaemic haemofiltration at 45 ml/kg/h on physiological and clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock. Retrospective study before and after a change of unit protocol (study period 8 years). Intensive care unit of metropolitan hospital. Eighty patients with septic shock. Introduction of a new septic shock protocol based on early isovolaemic haemofiltration (EIHF). In the pre-EIHF period (before), 40 patients received conventional supportive therapy. In the post-EIHF period (after), 40 patients received EIHF at 45 ml/kg/h of plasma-water exchange over 6 h followed by conventional continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH). Anticoagulation policy remained unchanged. The two groups were comparable for age, gender and baseline APACHE II score. Delivered haemofiltration dose was above 85% of prescription in all patients. PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased from 117+/-59 to 240+/-50 in EIHF, while it changed from 125+/-55 to 160+/-50 in the control group (p