The Department of Nephrology and Hypertension is a major participant in the intensive care setting via care to ICU patients with acute renal failure, volume disturbance, fluid/electrolyte and acid/base disorders. Cleveland Clinic nephrologists have led in the development of several techniques for treatment of acute renal failure such as slow continuous ultrafiltration, continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration and venovenous hemofiltration. Much of the work with ICU patients is related to the remarkably active cardiac surgery services that characterize the Cleveland Clinic.