Fluid deresuscitation in critically ill children: comparing perspectives of intensivists and nephrologists.

Introduction: Fluid accumulation, presently defined as a pathologic state of overhydration/volume overload associated with clinical impact, is common and associated with worse outcomes. At times, deresuscitation, the active removal of fluid via diuretics or ultrafiltration, is necessary. There is no consensus regarding deresuscitation in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Characteristics and outcomes of children ≤ 10 kg receiving continuous kidney replacement therapy: a WE-ROCK study.

Background: Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) is often used for acute kidney injury (AKI) or fluid overload (FO) in children ≤ 10 kg. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in children ≤ 10 kg reported by the prospective pediatric CRRT (ppCRRT, 2001-2003) registry was 57%. We aimed to evaluate characteristics associated with ICU mortality using a contemporary registry.

An evaluation of the outcomes associated with peritoneal catheter use in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery: A multicenter study.

Objective: The study objective was to determine if intraoperative peritoneal catheter placement is associated with improved outcomes in neonates undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: This propensity score-matched retrospective study used data from 22 academic pediatric cardiac intensive care units. Consecutive neonates undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery category 3 to 5 cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at centers participating in the NEonatal and Pediatric Heart Renal Outcomes Network collaborative were studied to determine the association of the use of an intraoperative placed peritoneal catheter for dialysis or passive drainage with clinical outcomes, including the duration of mechanical ventilation.

Deriving and validating a protocol to determine the need for prophylactic peritoneal dialysis in neonates after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Background: Prophylactic peritoneal dialysis (PD) in neonates undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is safe and improves outcomes. We sought to (1) derive the pre-operative characteristics of neonates who are most likely to benefit from PD after CPB and (2) validate a new prophylactic PD protocol based on our retrospective analysis.

Methods: First, we retrospectively evaluated neonates requiring cardiac surgery with CPB from October 2012 to June 2016.

Peritoneal catheters in neonates undergoing complex cardiac surgery: a multi-centre descriptive study.

Background: The use of peritoneal catheters for prophylactic dialysis or drainage to prevent fluid overload after neonatal cardiac surgery is common in some centres; however, the multi-centre variability and details of peritoneal catheter use are not well described.

Methods: Twenty-two-centre NEonatal and Pediatric Heart Renal Outcomes Network (NEPHRON) study to describe multi-centre peritoneal catheter use after STAT category 3-5 neonatal cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. Patient characteristics and acute kidney injury/fluid outcomes for six post-operative days are described among three cohorts: peritoneal catheter with dialysis, peritoneal catheter with passive drainage, and no peritoneal catheter.

Detection of Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates after Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) in neonates has been associated with poor outcomes. Early detection and intervention of acute kidney injury (AKI) are needed in order to mitigate some of these sequalae. Currently, serum creatinine (SCr) remains the gold standard for AKI diagnosis; however, changes are not seen until days after injury thus delaying the diagnosis.

Retrospective analysis comparing complication rates of centrifuge vs membrane-based therapeutic plasma exchange in the pediatric population.

Background: There are two conventional modalities used to perform therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE): centrifuge TPE (cTPE) or membrane TPE (mTPE). There is limited data on complications with mTPE.

Objective: We sought to better understand the patient and machine complications of mTPE compared to cTPE.

Urine Quantification Following Furosemide for Severe Acute Kidney Injury Prediction in Critically Ill Children.

A standardized, quantified assessment of furosemide responsiveness predicts acute kidney injury (AKI) in children after cardiac surgery and AKI progression in critically ill adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if response to furosemide is predictive of severe AKI in critically ill children outside of cardiac surgery. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of critically ill children.

Furosemide response predicts acute kidney injury in children after cardiac surgery.

Objective: A standardized assessment of response to furosemide is predictive of acute kidney injury progression in adults, but a paucity of data exists in pediatric patients. We evaluate furosemide responsiveness in a multicenter cohort of pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Children who underwent cardiac surgery with a Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery score of 3 or greater were retrospectively identified.

Congenital heart surgery and acute kidney injury.

Purpose Of Review: The incidence of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) continues to increase and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and identification of patients at risk are extremely important. Therefore, identifying associated risk factors, biomarkers for earlier detection, prevention and therapeutic options for CS-AKI warrant special attention.

Cell-specific regulation of L-WNK1 by dietary K.

Flow-induced K(+) secretion in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron is mediated by high-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels. Familial hyperkalemic hypertension (pseudohypoaldosteronism type II) is an inherited form of hypertension with decreased K(+) secretion and increased Na(+) reabsorption. This disorder is linked to mutations in genes encoding with-no-lysine kinase 1 (WNK1), WNK4, and Kelch-like 3/Cullin 3, two components of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that degrades WNKs.

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Chronic Ulcerative Colitis Treated with Eculizumab.

Background: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) presents with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and thrombotic microangiopathy of the kidney and usually results from Shiga-toxin induced activation of the alternative complement pathway. Gastroenteritis is a common feature of the Shiga-toxin producing HUS, referred to as STEC-HUS. An inherited or acquired complement dysregulation may lead to HUS referred to as non-STEC or atypical (a)HUS.

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis as a cause for hypertension in an adolescent patient.

Background: Atherosclerosis causing renal artery stenosis (RAS) is one of the most common secondary causes of hypertension in adults, but is rare in children.

Case-diagnosis/treatment: RAS associated with coronary artery stenosis was diagnosed in a teenage patient who presented with intermittent chest pain and elevated blood pressures for 6 years. The diagnosis of RAS was suspected after physical examination revealed an abdominal bruit.

Therapy of acute hypertension in hospitalized children and adolescents.

Acute hypertension (HTN) in hospitalized children and adolescents occurs relatively frequently, and in some cases, if not recognized and treated promptly, it can lead to hypertensive crisis with potentially significant morbidity and mortality. In contrast to adults, where acute HTN is most likely due to uncontrolled primary HTN, children and adolescents with acute HTN are more likely to have secondary HTN. This review will briefly cover evaluation of acute HTN and various age-specific etiologies of secondary HTN and provide more in-depth discussion on treatment targets, potential risks of acute HTN therapy, and available pediatric data on intravenous and oral antihypertensive agents, and it proposes treatment schema including unique therapy of specific secondary HTN scenarios.