Objective To explore the feasibility and effect of infusion pump potassium supplementation in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods Patients who underwent CRRT were randomly divided into infusion pump group and traditional way group between March and May 2018. In infusion pump group, 10% potassium chloride was supplemented with infusion pump. In traditional way group, 10% potassium chloride was supplemented in the traditional way, which meant adding potassium in the replacement solution. The peripheral blood potassium level, the potassium well-controlled rate, the incidence of adverse events, the average frequency of replacement liquid bags change, the average pump stopping time, and the delivery dose and potassium supplement dose between the two groups were compared. Results A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups, with 30 cases in each group. The infusion pump group was treated with an average of 6.90 mL/h potassium supplement dose by infusion pump, and in traditional way group, potassium was added to the replacement solution by an average of 9.29 mL/h; there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). When compared with traditional way group, there was no significant differences (P>0.05) in the peripheral blood potassium level and the potassium well-controlled rate of the patients at 0, 2, 8, 12 and 24 hours after CRRT (P>0.05). As for the adverse events rate, average frequency of replacement liquid bags change, average pump stopping time, and potassium supplement dose, there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusions The application of infusion pump to supply potassium in CRRT is feasible and safe, and is superior to the traditional potassium supplement method. It could be further applied in clinical practice.
Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of plasma diafiltration (PDF) in the treatment of liver failure. Methods Patients with liver failure requiring artificial liver treatment in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from December 2020 to December 2022 were selected and divided into three groups according to treatment modality: PDF group, double plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) group and plasma exchange (PE) group. Serum albumin levels and total bilirubin (TB) levels were tested before and after treatments to compare the clearance of these substances among three groups. Adverse events were recorded. Results A total of 88 patients were included, with a total of 179 treatments conducted. Among them, 27 cases in PDF group were treated for 62 times. In PE group, 18 cases were treated for 33 times. In DPMAS group, 43 cases were treated for 84 times. There were no significant differences between the three groups in age, sex, TB, international standardized ratio, albumin, hemoglobin, blood pH value, blood sodium, blood potassium, blood free calcium, or lactate (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the absolute value of TB decrease, percentage of TB decrease, absolute value of albumin change, and percentage of albumin change before and after treatment among the three groups (P>0.05). Transient hypotension occurred in one patient in DPMAS group. There were two and three allergic reactions in PDF and PE groups, respectively. In addition, 2 patients in PE group had hypocalcemia. Conclusions PDF can be safely used in patients with liver failure, and its therapeutic effect on reducing bilirubin is similar to DPMAS and PE groups. Compared with PE, it needs less plasma supplement. As it can provide ultrafiltration, PDF would be helpful in patients with liver failure accompanied by renal insufficiency oliguria.