Acute renal failure in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

To investigate the incidence, implicating factors and outcome of acute renal failure after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit.

Prospective observational pilot study.

A 14 bed paediatric intensive care unit in a university affiliated, tertiary care referral children's hospital.

One hundred and one children (less than sixteen years of age) admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit following cardiopulmonary bypass between June 2003 and May 2004.

None.

PRISM-III score was calculated on admission. Baseline admission urea (mmol/L) and creatinine (micromol/L) serum levels and highest urea and creatinine levels were measured. Urine output (mL/kg/hour) and frusemide dose (mg/kg/day) were also noted. A baseline inotrope score was calculated on admission and the highest inotrope score was noted based on maximum infused doses of inotrope in the first 36 hours. The surgical procedure was used to determine a Jenkins score. Eleven (11%) children developed acute renal injury (doubling of creatinine), one child (1%) developed acute renal failure (tripling of creatinine) and one child died (1%). No child required dialysis for acute renal failure and none developed chronic renal impairment. Low cardiac output was the only significant risk factor identified for developing acute renal injury or failure.

Acute renal injury is common and occurred in 11% of our children following congenital cardiac surgery, but acute renal failure requiring dialysis is uncommon.