What's "CVVH" in the ICU??

[tutored]

Can someone please help me out? I am a final-semester nursing student starting ICU tomorrow - I have a patient on "CVVH", and though I have many fine medical books, a big PDA, and lots of resources, I can't for the life of me decipher the letters. I have to present this patient tomorrow morning. Can someone throw me a bone and tell me what the initials stand for, so I can look up the treatment? Thanks so much, any help would be wonderful.

[SDALPN]

Continuous venovenous hemofiltration .

Hope that helps.

[Jen911]

Found this via google, I'm gonna guess it has to do with dialysis. Hopefully this will start you in the right direction.

CVVH Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration

Jen911

[tutored]

SDALPN and JEN911, your are both awesome!!! I just posted that. My blood pressure's going down already. Now I don't have to look like an idiot in pre-conf, or ask an RN on the floor (I'd rather die)....you saved my pride! Thanks so much!

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Be prepared- this will be one very sick patient.

[tutored]

Oh, really? Thanks for the heads up. I'll have extra coffee tomorrow morning! I appreciate that. From what research I"ve been able to do (thanks to all of you!), it seems like this is a substitution for regular dialysis when the patient's status is shaky and they can't take another assault to their hemodynamics. Would you agree? Anyway, thanks so much for your response!

[cmo421]

Can someone please help me out? I am a final-semester nursing student starting ICU tomorrow - I have a patient on "CVVH", and though I have many fine medical books, a big PDA, and lots of resources, I can't for the life of me decipher the letters. I have to present this patient tomorrow morning. Can someone throw me a bone and tell me what the initials stand for, so I can look up the treatment? Thanks so much, any help would be wonderful.

Nice pt to have,you should be happy. Time will fly. Lots of documentation,assessments and labor(heavy bags of solution)and even some math. Have fun!

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Oh, really? Thanks for the heads up. I'll have extra coffee tomorrow morning! I appreciate that. From what research I"ve been able to do (thanks to all of you!), it seems like this is a substitution for regular dialysis when the patient's status is shaky and they can't take another assault to their hemodynamics. Would you agree? Anyway, thanks so much for your response!

Make sure you pee before you get started. These are very unstable patients, and you'll learn tons. Watch how the nurse charts on the CVVH sheet- it's very interesting how everything is calculated. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

[tutored]

Thanks so much to all four of you for your great replies! Tonight, after reading your posts, I went from clueless, to scared, to psyched! (But still with a little healthy anxiety;)).....I"ll let you know!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Would someone give us a precis on what's actually done? I've only done the dialysis with the AV-fistula or shunt. Not V v

[tutored]

Yeah, I can, thanks to everyone else for telling me what it is! It's a continuous filtration of the venous blood, through a large vein (my patient's tap is near the subclavian), mainly for patients who can't handle any insults to their hemodynamic stability and therefore aren't candidates for dialysis. My patient is septic on top of everything else wrong (mechanical ventilator, peritonitis with abdominal abscess, heart failure, acute renal failure), so the last thing he needs would be "another" opening into the body! It sure seems like he's toast. Add IV fentanyl, versed, and a muscle relaxant, TOGETHER!!! He's been in for 3-1/2 weeks. I was scared earlier today to start caring for him, but the pep talk from everyone has me excited to learn. Thanks again, everyone!

[tutored]

correction: that's filtration of ALL blood (duh!), but with venous routes both ways.