Continuous renal replacement therapy is used when the patient is hemodynamically unstable and is not able to tolerate conventional hemodialysis. It is also used for critically ill patients with brain injury who are at risk for cerebral edema. CRRT uses slower blood flow rates that lead to slower fluid and solute removal. There are several forms of CRRT which include continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVHF), continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), and slow dialysis (SLED). CRRT is usually limited to critical care units.
James, M.T. & Pannu, N. (2014). Management of acute kidney injury. In S.J Gilbert, D.E.Weiner, D.S. Gipson, M.A. Perazella, & M. Tonelli (Eds., 6th ed.), pp. 320-321. National Kidney Foundation, Primer on Kidney Diseases. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.