Morbimortality associated to acute kidney injury in patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units

J C Gómez Polo1, A J Alcaraz Romero1, M A Gil-Ruíz Gil-Esparza1

  • 1Servicio de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.

Medicina Intensiva
|September 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children significantly increases morbidity and mortality. The severity of renal injury directly correlates with poorer outcomes, including longer hospital stays and increased need for mechanical ventilation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant concern in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).
  • Defining and quantifying AKI's impact is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the morbimortality associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in a PICU.
  • To utilize the pediatric adaptation of the RIFLE criteria for AKI classification.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 320 children admitted to a tertiary care PICU in 2011.
  • Exclusion of neonates and renal transplant recipients.
  • AKI defined and classified using the pediatric RIFLE criteria; morbimortality assessed via PICU/hospital stays, mechanical ventilation use, and mortality.

Main Results:

  • 128 out of 315 eligible children developed AKI (40.6%).
  • Children with AKI experienced significantly longer PICU stays (6.0 vs. 3.5 days) and hospital stays (17 vs. 10 days).
  • AKI was an independent factor for increased morbidity, with a dose-response relationship between AKI severity and adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Development of AKI in critically ill children is linked to increased morbimortality.
  • The degree of renal injury is proportional to the severity of morbimortality.
Abstract

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