Appropriate Renal Support in the Management of Acute Renal and Respiratory Failure: Does Early Aggressive Treatment Improve the Outcome?

Before dialysis was available acute renal failure carried a mortality of around 91% (Bywaters and Beall 1941). With the introduction of renal replacement therapy, the mortality for patients with acute renal failure fell to 50% and for those with acute renal and respiratory failure, it fell to around 70% (Kennedy et al. 1973). Despite enormous advances in intensive care, no further significant reduction in mortality has been noted.