Blood purification
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Multicenter Study
Screening and study enrolment in the Randomized Evaluation of Normal vs. Augmented Level (RENAL) Replacement Therapy Trial.
Aspects of trial design, screening and study efficiency can affect recruitment and the findings of the trial itself. A clear understanding of the screening and study inclusion process will assist clinicians in interpreting trial results. ⋯ The RENAL Trial's enrolment efficiency was high and compared favourably with previous large intensive care units trials and with that of trials in patients with acute renal failure. The high rate of enrolment suggests that the results can be applied with confidence to most patients with de novo acute renal failure. The loss of close to 1.5% of patients due to consent issues highlights a common problem in critical care trials. The low rate of physician objection suggests clinical equipoise.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in intensive care units (ICUs). However, its incidence and outcome vary in several studies depending on definitions used or even the geographic origin of the study. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of AKI in ICUs in Greece. ⋯ AKI involves a large number of patients in Greek ICUs and is associated with adverse outcomes.