Effect of continuous furosemide infusion on outcome of acute kidney injury: Effects of furosemide on early acute kidney injury

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of continuous intravenous infusion with high-dose furosemide on early acute kidney injury (AKI) complicated with acute lung edema.

Methods: Ninety patients who had been treated by furosemide at routine dose for 12 hour but with unsatisfactory outcomes were selected and subjected to continuous intravenous infusion with high-dose furosemide. The dose was adjusted according to hourly urine output. Serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and potassium, pH, oxygenation index and mechanical ventilation time before and 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour after treatment were compared.

Results: The urine outputs before and 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour after treatment were (10.71±1.81), (164.52±21.42), (189.71±29.61), (181.33±23.52), (176.82±24.80) and (164.52±18.91) ml/h respectively. Compared with data before treatment, the serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and potassium significantly decreased while pH and oxygenation index significantly increased after six hour of treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the kidney functions of 80 patients (88.9%) were completely recovered, without obvious adverse reactions.

Conclusion: For patients with early AKI complicated with acute pulmonary edema who cannot be cured by diuretic agent at routine dose, high-dose furosemide increases urine output and improves success rate.