Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy in Pediatric Intensive Care: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine
• Nephrology
• Critical Care

Background:

• Increasing complexity of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions correlates with a rise in acute kidney injury (AKI).
• Standard extracorporeal therapies like hemodialysis are often impractical for critically ill children requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a concise guide on the practical aspects of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT).
• To support postgraduate trainees and intensivists managing pediatric patients with AKI in the PICU.

Main Methods:

• This article is a review summarizing practical considerations for CKRT.
• Focuses on the application and management of CKRT in the PICU setting.

Main Results:

• Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) is the preferred KRT modality in high-income countries' PICUs.
• CKRT utilization is growing in emerging economies, such as India, due to its benefits for critically ill children.

Conclusions:

• CKRT is an essential and increasingly utilized therapy for pediatric acute kidney injury in intensive care settings.
• This review offers practical insights for effective CKRT implementation and management in PICUs.