Acute-on-chronic?

[cardiac.cure03]

So there's "acute"... And there's "chronic." I got that.

But what really is "acute-on-chronic" ?? I've heard the term with renal and respiratory issues and just wondered what the difference is between either acute or chronic.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I've never heard the term before, but can it maybe mean that a person has an acute exacerbation of a chronic disease?

[Myxel67]

CardiacRN

You took the words right out of my keyboard!

[GregRN]

Take a look at Acute on Chronic Renal Failure. A patient may have an acute exacerbation of chronic failure, evidenced by increased creatnine. The baseline may be at a CRF level and an exacerbation (acute) would be even higher. The goal of ARF would be to retrurn to the original baseline, which would be his chronic state, and then improve renal status from there.

[cardiac.cure03]

Thanks guys

[Arnel1130]

Chronic dialysis is where you initiate dialysis in a center / unit wherein patients have schedule like what time are they going to start the treatment, Acute RN is doing dialysis treatment in a hospital (in all area like ICU, ER & other), can do dialysis anytime (24/7), usually emergency HD.

[fatoma]

regarding respiratory part, in acute respiratory failure the pH is below 7.35(uncompensated) , but in chronic respiratory failure the PH is normal(compensated) b/s it has developed over long period of time such as in COPDs pts.

regards