The International journal of artificial organs
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Observational Study
Renal function in children assisted with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A single-center retrospective analysis from a prospective observational database assessing the incidence of acute kidney injury in children undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the use of continuous renal replacement therapy and its association with outcomes was performed. One hundred children were studied. ⋯ We conclude that kidney function is significantly impaired in a high percentage of children undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and many of them are treated with continuous renal replacement therapy. Patients treated with continuous renal replacement therapy have a higher mortality than those with normal kidney function or stage I acute kidney injury at the beginning of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Most patients surviving to pediatric intensive care unit discharge recover normal renal function after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
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Continuous renal replacement therapy is not presently recommended in the treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia. There are no specific recommendations in hemodialysis to treat hyperkalemia. We hypothesized an in vitro model may provide valuable information on the usefulness of continuous renal replacement therapy to treat severe hyperkalemia. ⋯ Hyperkalemia is efficiently treated by continuous renal replacement therapy using the dialysis mode. Caution is needed to prevent the onset of severe hypokalemia within 40 min after initiation of the session.