Kidney support therapy in the pediatric patient: Unique considerations for a unique population

The use of kidney support therapy (KST) for use in managing patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) has expanded greatly in the last several decades. The growing use of KST modalities in children, and now in neonates, has been associated with opportunities for education, clinical research, clinical practice improvements, and outcomes research. A multitude of controversies exist in the field of pediatric KST-many of which are shared by adult critical care nephrology practice. Simultaneously, pediatric KST has led the way to a burgeoning exploration of the importance of fluid overload as it relates to KST initiation and management and also with quality improvement. In this review, we will explore and describe the paradigms contained with pediatric KST used to support children with AKI. In addition to the governing principles related to the mechanics of KST, we will describe the novel aspects of newer support machines and ethical considerations of KST provision. Anticoagulation, dose, and modality will be discussed as well as priming procedures for special considerations. The utilization of KST across pediatric populations represents the next frontier of critical care nephrology.