Renal replacement therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is becoming increasingly necessary for supporting critically ill neonates. Few studies have reported the use of RRT in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Therefore, we performed a retrospective study to describe the use of RRT in our NICU and its associated efficacy, complications, and outcomes.

We identified patients requiring RRT between January 2009 and January 2017. Demographic data, mode of RRT, and associated factors were recorded. Efficacy was calculated as the percentage reduction in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or toxic metabolite level after 24 h of RRT. Complications including hypotension, electrolyte disturbance, and technical and catheter-related complications were documented. Measures of clinical outcome included in-hospital survival, presence of neurological sequelae, and chronic kidney disease. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.

We included 17 neonates in our study. The median gestational age at birth was 37 weeks (32-39 weeks), and the median birth weight was 2.7 kg (1.5-3.6 kg). Twelve neonates, including three with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), received continuous RRT (CRRT), and five neonates underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD). The percentage reduction in ammonia in neonates with IEM who received CRRT was 87.2% at 24 h. The percentage reductions in BUN in the non-IEM neonates in the CRRT and PD groups were 33.7% and 23.7% at 24 h, respectively. The main complication was electrolyte disturbance including hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypophosphatemia. All neonates with IEM survived, whereas the mortality rates for the non-IEM neonates in the CRRT and PD groups were 78% and 80%, respectively.

Our study findings reveal RRT to be feasible, even in preterm neonates with low birth weight. CRRT had a higher efficacy level, particularly in neonates with IEM, and the complications encountered were transient and correctable.