[The role of elective hemofiltration in the management of sepsis and multiple organ failure].

Septic shock and the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome carries a very high risk of mortality. The exact pathomechanism of the development of multiorgan dysfunction is yet to be revealed and its treatment remains the biggest challenge in intensive care. In order to prevent the development of multiple organ dysfunction new therapeutic modalities have been investigated over the last years. One promising intervention is the exchange of large volumes of ultrafiltrate during haemofiltration termed as "elective" haemofiltration. By removing several middle molecular weight inflammatory mediators from the circulation, currently thought to be responsible for a number of complications due to sepsis, it as been suggested, that it might improve survival in theses patients.