Objective       To investigate the efficacy of continuous high-volume hemofiltration (CHVHF) in patients with sepsis and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)．      Methods      A retrospective study was conducted on a total of 117 patients with sepsis and severe ARDS

who were admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2008 to December 2014. They were divided into a control group (n=49) and a treatment group (n=68). The patients in the treatment group were treated with CHVHF and routine treatments

while the patients in the control group received routine treatments only. The oxygenation index (PaO

2

/FiO

2

)

extravascular lung water index (EVLWI)

arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO

2

)

heart rate (HR)

mean arterial pressure (MAP)

central venous pressure (CVP)

interleukin-6 (IL-6)

and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the control group and the treatment group before treatment and at 6

24

48

and 72 h after treatment. The duration of mechanical ventilation (MV)

ICU stay time

percentage of weaning from MV

and 28-day survival rate were observed.       Results       The indexes of pulmonary function in the 2 groups were improved after treatment. Along with the treatment time increase

PaO

2

/FiO

2

was elevated while EVLWI and PaCO

2

were lowered

and the improvements were more significant in the treatment group than in the control group (24 h PaO

2

/FiO

2

: 122.4±9.6 vs 91.2±12.5 mmHg; 24 h EVLWI: 10.6±2.5 vs 12.8±2.6 mL/kg; 24 h PaCO

2

: 46.7±6.2  vs 50.8±4.4 mmHg

P0.05). HR

MAP and CVP were also improved after treatment (P0.05)

but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P0.05). Compared with the control group

6 h IL-6 and CRP levels were lower in the treatment group (IL-6: 51.61±6.09 vs 61.31±2.90 pg/mL; CRP: 22.97±4.24 vs 31.37±5.81 mg/L

P0.05). Compared with the control group

the duration

of MV and ICU stay time were shorter in the treatment group (duration of MV: 11.5±4.3 vs 20.6±7.4; ICU stay time: 19.5±9.2 vs 35.0±6.3

P0.05)

and the percentage of successful weaning from MV and 28-day survival rate were higher (percentage of successful weaning from MV: 89.7% vs 61.2%; 28-day survival rate: 83.8% vs 63.3%

P0.05).       Conclusion       CHVHF is an effective adjuvant treatment for severe ARDS through improving the lung function

shortening the duration of MV

improving the percentage of successful weaning from MV and the survival rate

and lowering the mortality.