Kianoush B. Kashani, M.D., M.S.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases mortality, hospital cost, and rate of progression toward end stage kidney disease 1-4. Early diagnosis and management of AKI is known to improve the above mentioned outcomes.

Hypothesis: the investigators will design and validate an electronic surveillance tool to screen all the ICU admissions for the earlier, more efficient diagnosis of AKI and as a result improve the outcome of AKI in ICU patients.

Methods: the investigators plan to use the patient database, and AKIN (AKI network) definition to design an electronic alert system to allow clinicians discover patients who develop AKI. Then a randomized clinical trial will be conducted to compare earlier intervention (based on Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes [KDIGO] guidelines) initiated by AKI sniffer alert to the conventional management provided by primary physician in ICU.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of performing lung and kidney and lung ultrasound elastography among patients with critical illness from different etiologies that could be associated with volume overload.

The purpose of this study is to assess kidney microcirculation using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography associated with kidney ultrasound elastography among patients who are at risk of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury provides strong predictive ability for AKI and potential therapeutic targets. 

The purpose of this study is to assess the improvement in physician’s knowledge and skill sets in ultrasonography after the implementation of simulation-based educational program.  

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of LJPC-501 (angiotensin II) on the mean arterial pressure in adult patients with catecholamine-resistant hypotension.

The purpose of this study is to to collect urine samples to validate the NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 Test in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with moderate to severe (Stage 2 or 3) acute kidney injury (AKI) as an aid in the risk assessment for developing persistent severe AKI (Stage 3 AKI lasting > 72 hours) within 48 hours of patient assessment.

To compare the safety and efficacy of the PMX cartridge based on mortality at 28-days in subjects with septic shock who have high levels of endotoxin and are treated with standard medical care plus use of the PMX cartridge, versus subjects who receive standard medical care alone.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of using high versus low bicarbonate containing replacement fluid in patients with metabolic acidosis receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) for acute kidney injury (AKI) on in-hospital mortality.

The purpose of this study is to determine if, in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury, an earlier start of renal replacement therapy compared to standard treatment will lead to improved survival and recovery of kidney function.