Conclusion
HYPERCALCEMIA
During citrate anticoagulated CVVH, and following recommendations for calcium supplementation from the literature, a negative calcium balance was commonly found. Adhering to higher target levels for plasma ionized calcium will lower this risk, but can not prevent negative calcium balances in patients who have some degree of hypercalcemia, as is frequently present in ICU patients. We present a validated formula to easily calculate calcium excretion in the CVVH ultrafiltrate from plasma calcium concentrations, ultrafiltrate flow and CVVH blood flow. Our equation may be used at the bedside to help avoid calcium loss from the skeleton.