In a remarkable display of medical expertise, Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, has saved the life of a 40-year-old male patient who suffered acute kidney failure by administering Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), a slow and steady form of dialysis used in critically ill patients to support failing kidneys while maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.
The patient, a chronic alcohol consumer and smoker, was admitted in a life-threatening condition with dangerously low blood pressure (as low as 60 mmHg), and high levels of creatinine that signalled a dangerous buildup of impurities in the blood due to kidney failure. Further, the patient was dependent on two inotropes, medications that help improve heart function and maintain blood pressure in critically unstable patients.
The expert team at Meenakshi Hospital acted swiftly to stabilise the patient’s hemodynamics by administering CRRT within the first 24 hours using advanced critical care protocols. Within 48 hours of treatment, the patient began to show signs of recovery, including a significant increase in urine output, a crucial indicator of kidney function. At the time of admission, the patient’s creatinine levels were alarmingly high at 4 to 5 mg/dL. However, following treatment, it dropped to a healthy range of 0.9 to 1 mg/dL.
Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, is the only healthcare facility in the Delta region, and one of the very few in the southern districts, to actively practice Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), a highly specialised procedure used to manage critically ill patients with acute kidney failure. Unlike conventional dialysis, CRRT works continuously over 24 hours, gently removing waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood while maintaining blood pressure stability, making it ideal for unstable patients in intensive care. The procedure requires sophisticated CRRT machines and the expertise of skilled nephrologists to carefully monitor and adjust treatment parameters. Over the past few months, the hospital has successfully administered this advanced therapy and saved the lives of eight critically ill patients.
In his comments, Dr. S. Gowri Shankar, Consultant Nephrologist, who headed the dialysis team, said, “The patient was in an extremely critical condition when he was brought in. His blood pressure had dropped to 60 mmHg, kidneys had completely shut down with zero urine output, and he was on two inotropes just to keep his heart functioning. We immediately stabilised his blood pressure, provided respiratory support, managed his fluid and electrolyte balance, and started CRRT, which ultimately played a central role in his recovery. Though CRRT is a complex and resource-intensive procedure, it was executed effectively thanks to our well-trained nephrology and ICU team that strictly followed every clinical protocol. Without CRRT, such a recovery would not have been possible in a patient this unstable.”
Talking about CRRT, he said that this advanced dialysis procedure is specifically designed for patients with acute kidney failure and who are hemodynamically unstable. It can also be used in certain cases to remove toxins or poisons from the bloodstream. Unlike regular dialysis, which is completed in 3 to 4 hours and allows the patient to return home the same day, CRRT is a slow and continuous process that can run for limitless hours. This gradual approach is crucial for critically ill patients because it helps maintain stable blood pressure. Conventional dialysis cannot be safely administered to patients with very low BP, as it can further drop their pressure. CRRT, on the other hand, does not destabilise the patient and is therefore a lifesaving option in such critical conditions.
CRRT is particularly effective for patients with low blood pressure caused by severe infections (sepsis), heart failure, liver dysfunction, or dysautonomic shock, a condition where the body’s nervous system fails to regulate blood pressure and other vital functions. CRRT, with its controlled environment and external filtration system, offers a safer and more stable alternative in high-risk cases.
Dr. Senthil Kumar, Consultant and in charge - Medical Intensive Care and Toxicology and Dr. V. Praveen, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur was also present during the press meet.