Thorax 2001;56:242-243
( March )
Case reports
Continuous venovenous haemofiltration for the treatment of
theophylline toxicity
J H Henderson, C A McKenzie, P J Hilton, R M Leach
Department of
Critical Care Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK
Correspondence to: Dr R M Leach richard.leach{at}gstt.sthames.nhs.uk
Received 31 March 2000;
Accepted for publication 31 May 2000
In patients with severe theophylline toxicity charcoal
haemoperfusion is the recommended method for rapid reduction of serum theophylline levels. However, access to this technique is limited in
most hospitals. This case report shows that continuous venovenous haemofiltration, a technique available in most hospitals, is an effective alternative to charcoal haemoperfusion.
Keywords:
venovenous haemofiltration;
theophylline
toxicity
© 2001 by Thorax
