Tandem hemodialysis and plasma exchange

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• The tandem procedure combines hemodialysis and plasma exchange.
• Limited case series exist for this combined procedure, especially in pediatrics.
• Sequential performance can exceed 8 hours, impacting patient convenience and costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review adult and pediatric experiences with the tandem hemodialysis and plasma exchange procedure.
• To investigate current pediatric practice patterns through a survey.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of adult and pediatric case series.
• Online survey distributed to pediatric nephrologists via the "PedNeph" listserver.

Main Results:

• The tandem procedure can be completed within the time of routine hemodialysis for stable patients.
• Survey results provide an overview of current pediatric practice patterns.
• Data on pediatric utilization of this combined therapy remains scarce.

Conclusions:

• The tandem hemodialysis and plasma exchange procedure offers significant convenience and potential cost savings.
• Further research and larger pediatric case series are needed to fully understand its application and benefits in children.