A pilot study of intensive short-time continuous renal replacement therapy to substitute maintenance hemodialysis during transitional period of COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of perfect solutions for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in patients with a high transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS: MHD patients with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from April 1 to June 30, 2022, were recruited. We performed 4-h continuous renal replacement therapy with Prismaflex dialysis machine and ST100 suite using continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) mode with a fluid exchange volume of 8000 mL/h.

RESULTS: Forty-five MHD patients were included with a median dialysis age of 91 months. Overall spKt/V reached 0.96 ± 0.19. Urea reduction ratio was 50.29 ± 7.60% with the ultrafiltration of 2.18 ± 0.79 kg. Dry weight was significantly inversely correlated with spKt/V (R = -0.563, p < 0.001). Female gender was a significant positive factor of spKt/V. Preheating of replacement solution using an incubator solved the complication of shivering in most patients.

CONCLUSION: Intensive short-time CVVHDF may be considered as an alternative for routine MHD during COVID-19 transitional period.