Diuretic use in critical care.

Diuretics have found wide application in critical care medicine. The use of mannitol and loop diuretics in a variety of life-threatening disorders is reviewed. The combined venodilatory and natriuretic effects of bumetanide, furosemide and ethacrynic acid relieve congestive symptoms in pulmonary edema. Although commonly administered to prevent development of acute tubular necrosis or in varying stages of evolving disease, few data are available to demonstrate the efficacy of mannitol or loop diuretics. An approach to the oliguric patient with acute tubular necrosis is described. The dangers of hyponatremia are reviewed, and the rational use of loop diuretics and hypertonic saline is outlined. The 3 loop-active agents inhibit calcium reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and therefore have proved useful in treating hypercalcemia. A practical approach to the diuretic-saline treatment of severe hypercalcemia is outlined. The kaliuretic effect of loop diuretics can be used to advantage in patients with acute or chronic hyperkalemia. A guide to such therapy is described.