Fondaparinux as an Anticoagulant in Haemofiltration in Patients With Acute Kidney Failure.

Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Fondaparinux as an Anticoagulant in Haemofiltration in Patients With Acute Renal Failure.

The purpose of this project is to assess the safety and effectiveness of fondaparinux, a new drug to prevent blood clotting in the continuous dialysis machine used in intensive care patients who have kidney failure.

The study hypothesis is that when used as an anticoagulant in haemofiltration, fondaparinux prolongs the filter life when compared to enoxaparin.

Fondaparinux is the first compound of a new class of synthetic oligosaccharides with antithrombotic effects. It represents the active portion of the natural heparin molecule.

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in filter life when using fondaparinux or enoxaparin as anticoagulation for haemofiltration.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult patients (18 years or over) admitted to the ICU and expected to stay for more than 48 hours.

2. Patients who require continuous renal replacement therapy.

3. Patients who consent or if the patient is not competent, the next of kin who consent to inclusion in the study. .

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Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients aged less than 18 years of age.
2. Patients who are pregnant
3. Patients with a contraindication to anticoagulation for pre existing bleeding diathesis
4. Patients or next of kin who do not consent to study inclusion. -