Arteriovenous haemofiltration: a recent advance in the management of renal failure.

Twenty five patients with oliguric renal failure were treated by a combination of continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration and intermittent haemodialysis over 18 months. Haemofiltration was given for a mean of 6.6 days and the mean filtration volume was 6.0 1/day. Fourteen of the 25 patients survived beyond two months after the period of oliguria. Haemofiltration proved to be a simple and effective method of fluid removal; it allowed maintenance of stable fluid balance and permitted optimum nutrition during prolonged oliguria.