Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a lifesaving procedure that requires a high level of skill, well established procedures and a multidisciplinary approach for safe execution. Here are 6 things you need to know if you provide care to patients receiving CRRT. What is CRRT? CRRT is a continuous form of dialysis indicated for patientsContinue reading “CRRT: What You Need to Know for Patient Care”
Category Archives: Nephrology
How to Dose Vancomycin: 3 Kinetic Values You Need to Know
…and what to do with them Confidence in dosing vancomycin comes from a solid understanding of vancomycin kinetics. It’s not as complicated as it seems. I will walk you through the 3 key kinetic parameters needed to dose vancomycin: We’re not going to go back to class. We know how to get these values byContinue reading “How to Dose Vancomycin: 3 Kinetic Values You Need to Know”
How to Dose Vancomycin: When Protocols Fail
Standard vancomycin dosing will not work for every patient. Let me walk you through 3 often overlooked patient characteristics that suggests the need for closer scrutiny and off-protocol dosing. This isn’t a post about how to perform detailed vancomycin calculations. It’s about learning how anticipate and be responsive to the body mechanics of patients toContinue reading “How to Dose Vancomycin: When Protocols Fail”
How to Assess Renal Function: 3 Blood Markers & Calculations
Normal renal function supports all organs in maintaining homeostasis. The kidneys are responsible for many critical processes in the body. Filtration: the kidneys remove waste products like urea and creatinine which accumulate as a byproduct of normal metabolic processes. Fluid Balance: The kidneys regulate how much water is eliminated and reabsorbed. Which in turn contributesContinue reading “How to Assess Renal Function: 3 Blood Markers & Calculations”
Renal Injury: What You Need to Know
Normal Renal Function The kidneys has many roles including filtration of blood to remove waste. Within the kidneys waste is filtered at the glomerulus. Waste exists the kidneys via the tubules as urine. Filtered blood is returned to the body. Categories of Renal Injury There are three broad categories of renal injury based on whereContinue reading “Renal Injury: What You Need to Know”
MUDPILES: The One Shared Trait that Leads to Acidosis
MUDPILES is a long-standing acronym that is used to quickly recall the likely causes of high anion gap metabolic acidosis but it usually stops right there. How do the components cause acidosis? Why is it important to know the how? Understanding vs Memorizing As our patients increasingly present with more complex comorbidities the straight pathwayContinue reading “MUDPILES: The One Shared Trait that Leads to Acidosis”