Abstract

CAPOTE LEYVA, Eliseo et al. Lethality associated with acute renal failure in an adult intensive care unit. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2008, vol.37, n.2. ISSN 0138-6557.

The acute renal insufficiency or acute renal failure has an annual incidence of 100 cases per million inhabitants, a high lethality and economic cost. The results of an investigation carried out with the objective of knowing the lethality associated with acute renal failure at an adult's intensive care unit are showed. An observational, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted among 36 patients that were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Military Central Hospital in a year and who were diagnosed acute renal failure. Data were obtained from the primary registers of the intensive care unit and from the medical histories of the patients. Acute renal failure had an elevated lethality (61.1 %) and it was higher in the complicated surgical patients (75.0 %). Lethality was greater in black patients (100 %), females (69.2 %) and individuals over 65 (66.6 %). It was total in patients with oliguria and elevated serum creatinine figures. The ventilated patients also showed a high lethality (81.4 %). The multiple organ failure was the most lethal complication, whereas the main causes of death were shock (36.8 %), multiple organ failure (27.3 %) and bacterial bronchopneumonia (22.7 %). These results prove that acute renal failure is still frequent and that it is associated with an elevated lethality, associated above all with multiple organ failure.

Keywords : Acute renal failure; acute renal failure; lethality; severe patient.

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