ArdorComm Media News Network
July 31, 2025
In a significant medical achievement, Meenakshi Hospital in Thanjavur has successfully saved the lives of eight critically ill patients using Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), a specialised form of dialysis designed for patients in intensive care.
Dr. S. Gowri Shankar, Consultant Nephrologist at the hospital, revealed that the treatment was administered over the past few months to patients suffering from life-threatening kidney failure and other complications. Among the cases, one particularly severe patient—a 40-year-old man with a history of heavy alcohol consumption and smoking—was admitted with dangerously low blood pressure and critically high creatinine levels, indicating severe kidney distress.
The patient, who was reliant on two inotropic drugs to sustain heart function and stabilize blood pressure, was immediately started on CRRT. This method of dialysis, unlike conventional hemodialysis, operates continuously over a 24-hour period, gently filtering the blood while preserving cardiovascular stability—crucial for patients with unstable conditions.
Remarkably, within 24 hours of initiating CRRT, the patient’s vital signs began to stabilize. By the second day, his urine output—a key indicator of kidney recovery—increased significantly, and his creatinine levels returned to a safer range, indicating a strong turnaround in his condition.
CRRT is particularly beneficial for patients experiencing multi-organ dysfunction or conditions such as sepsis, heart failure, severe liver issues, or dysautonomic shock, where the body fails to regulate blood pressure effectively. The therapy provides a controlled and gradual process of fluid and toxin removal, making it a safer alternative for critically ill individuals who cannot tolerate the more aggressive traditional dialysis methods.
Dr. Gowri Shankar emphasized that CRRT’s ability to stabilize patients while supporting failing kidneys is proving to be a game-changer in critical care nephrology, especially for high-risk patients in intensive care units.
Source: The Hindu