Data from a recent meta-analysis show that, in surgical patients, mortality is reduced when renal replacement therapy is started early. In certain surgical diseases, i.e. acute occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta (Leriche's syndrome) following surgical reperfusion, patients are at risk of severe metabolic acidosis and life-threatening hyperkalemia. In such cases, intraoperative dialysis using a mobile batch system can help to avoid these complications by delivering an effective dialysis therapy at the time of reperfusion.