Where are we: A survey on managing critically ill patients with acute kidney injury

Purpose
This electronic survey was designed to gather data on present practice on managing patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care units in Sri Lanka.

Methods
A questionnaire with 14 questions was sent via e mail to 98 board- certified consultant anaesthetists. Participation in the survey was voluntary and anonymous.

Results
A total of 27(27%) consultants returned fully completed questionnaire. 14 (52%) participants were consultants from teaching/tertiary care hospitals and 12 (44%) had more than 10 years of experience. 19 (70%) consultants encountered more than 1 AKI patients per month. Frusemide was in the regime of AKI management among 21 (78%), whereas, low dose dopamine was almost out of practice. Although 25 (93%) had facilities for peritoneal dialysis, only 14 (51%) had facilities for haemodialysis in their hospitals, mostly outside the ICUs. 12 (44%) had haemofiltration units in their ICUs. However, it was underutilized due to poor supply of consumables and lack of trained staff. All found it difficult to find intensive care beds with haemodialysis/haemofiltration facilities in other hospitals. Sepsis (70%) was the most frequently encountered cause of AKI.

Conclusion
Overall, this survey shows that facilities for the management of critically ill patients with AKI are limited, and it is the right time to take necessary actions by relevant bodies.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/slja.v20i2.4299

Sri Lankan Journal of Anaesthesiology.2012;20(2);84-87