• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2016

Purpose: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has become the preferred dialysis method to support critically ill children and neonates with acute kidney injury. Using CRRT on neonates has increased, but reports about experience are limited. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical application, outcomes, and complications of CRRT in children and neonates. Methods: A retrospective review was performed in 135 children and 36 neonates who underwent CRRT at a tertiary hospital from 2008 to 2015. Results: At the initiation of CRRT, the median age of children was 72 months and the corrected age of neonates was 37.1 weeks. Median body weight of neonates was 3.2 kg. In neonates, initial degree of fluid overload [FO%], blood flow rate [BFR] and ultrafiltration rate [UFR] rate during CRRT were higher than in children. Median real time of CRRT was 90.5 and 53.5 hours in children and neonates, respectively. Downtime of CRRT was 0.7 and 1.3 hours/day. Median mortality rates (44.4% vs.47.2%) and complication rates were similar between the groups. Conclusion: CRRT can be used for a wide range of critically ill children and neonates. Different application methods of CRRT can contribute to increased survival of neonates.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2014

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has become the preferred dialysis modality to support critically ill children with acute kidney injury. As CRRT technology and clinical practice advances, experiences using CRRT on small infants and neonates have increased. In neonates with hyperammonemia or acute kidney injury during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, CRRT can be a safe and effective technique. However, there are many limitations of CRRT in neonates, including vascular access, bleeding complications, and lack of neonatespecific devices. This review discusses the basic principles of CRRT and the special considerations when using this technique in neonates and infants.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2009

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been used in critically ill children for more than 20 years in the world, but in Korea, although it is becoming the preferred method of acute therapy in pediatric intensive care units, there has been a few experiences and no consensus of CRRT up to now. This review describes the basic technique of CRRT, highlights the between the adult and pediatric prescription, and elaborates on the main controversies in the application of CRRT in children.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2007

Purpose : Continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) has been the first choice for the treatment of acute renal failure in critically ill children not only in western countries but also in Korea. However, there are very few studies that have analyzed the outcome and prognosis of this modality in Korean children. We performed this study to evaluate the factors associated with the outcome and prognosis of patients treated with CRRT. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 32 children who had received CRRT at Severance hospital from 2003 to 2006. The mean age was 7.5 years(range 4 days-16 years) and the mean body weight was 25.8 kg (range 3.2-63 kg). Results : Eleven(34.4%) of the 32 patients survived. Bone marrow transplantation and malignancy were the most common causes of death and underlying disease leading to the need for CRRT Mean patient weight, age, duration of CRRT, number of organ failures, urine output, estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), C-reactive protein, and blood urea level did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors. (1) Pediatric risk of mortality(PRISM) III score at CRRT initiation($9.8{\pm}5.3$ vs. $26.7{\pm}7.6$, P<0.0001), (2) maximum pressor number ($2.1{\pm}1.2$ vs. $3.0{\pm}1.0$, P=0.038), and (3) the degree of fluid overload($5.2{\pm}6.0$ vs. $15.0{\pm}8.9$, P=0.002) were significantly lower in survivers than in nonsurvivors. Multivariate analysis revealed that fluid overload was the only independent factor reducing survival rate. Conclusion : CRRT was successfully applied to the treatment of acute renal failure in a wide range of critically ill children. To improve survival, we suggest the early initiation of CRRT to prevent the systemic worsening and progression of fluid overload in critically ill children with acute renal failure. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2007;11:247-254)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.938-947
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• 2007

Many dialysis modalities such as peritoneal dialysis (PD), hemodialysis (HD) and continuous hemofiltration or hemodialysis (CRRT) are available for the management of pediatric patients with acute renal failure (ARF). PD is a relatively simple, inexpensive modality and can be used in hemodynamically unstable patients. But, it may not be the optimal therapy for patients with severe volume overload or life threatening hyperkalemia. HD is the preferred modality for the treatment of severe volume overload, severe hyperkalemia, but it needs vascular access. Improvements in the HD equipment have allowed HD to be performend in small children. Recents technological improvements in CRRT therapies have enabled pediatric patients who are less stable to be treated. CRRT is becoming the preferred method of acute therapy in pediatric intensive care units. A sound knowledge of the underlying principles of dialysis and awareness of recent technological advancements in differnet dialysis modalities will hopefully result in improved management of children with ARF.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2005

Purpose : There is growing use of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) for pediatric patients, but reports about the use and outcome of CRRT in children is rare in Korea. We report our experiences of CRRT in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 23 pediatric patients who underwent CRRT at Asan Medical Center between May 2001 and May 2004. We evaluated underlying diseases, clinical features, treatment courses, CRRT modalities and outcomes. Results : Ages ranged from three days to 16 years with a median of five years. Patients weighed 2.4 to 63.9 kg(median 23.0 kg; 10 patients ${\leq}20kg$). The underlying diseases were malignancy(nine cases), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(five cases), hyperammonemia(four cases), acute renal failure associated with liver failure(three cases), dilated cardiomyopathy(one case) and congenital nephrotic syndrome(one case). Pediatric Risk of Mortality(PRISM) III score was $17.6{\pm}7.6$ and the mean number of failing organs was $3.0{\pm}1.7$. Duration of CRRT was one to 27 days(median : nine days). Eleven patients(47.8%) survived. Chronic renal failure developed in two cases, intracranial hemorrhage in one case, and chylothorax in one case among the survivors. PRISM III score and the number of vasopressor before the start of CRRT was significantly lower in the survivors($12.7{\pm}4.2$ and $0.9{\pm}1.1$) compared with nonsurvivors($22.1{\pm}7.8$ and $2.4{\pm}1.4$)(P<0.05). Conclusion : CRRT driven in venovenous mode is an effective and safe method of renal support for critically-ill infants and children to control fluid balance and metabolic derangement. Survival is affected by PRISM III score and the number of vasopressors at the initiation of CRRT.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2005

Purpose : Regional anticoagulation with trisodium citrate for continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) is an effective and safe method, with lower bleeding risk. However it is not widely used because of complex current protocols used to prevent anticipated metabolic derangements. We evaluated simplified regional anticoagulation protocols with ACD-A(R) solution and commercially available calcium-containing dialysis solution. Methods : The medical records of twenty-eight patients who underwent CRRT were reviewed. Hemofilter life span according to the anticoagulation method used was compared, and laboratory findings at Pre- and 48 hours post-CRRT initiation were compared in the citrate-based CRRT group. Results : Of the twenty-eight Patients, five patients underwent citrate-based CRRT Hemofilter life span was 1.60 $\pm$ 0.72 days, showing no significant differences with the hemofilter life span in the heparin based and LMWH based CRRT group. No patients experienced hemorrhagic complications. PT, aPTT, sodium, t$CO_{2}$, iCa levels showed no difference in pre- and post-CRRT. Total calcium levels were increased. At the recommended postfilter iCa level, j.e., 0.25-0.39 mmol/L, all five patients needed increased amount of citrate infusion, and Ca infusion requirement was decreased. Conclusion : Simplified regional citrate anticoagulation with calcium-containing dialysate is an effective and safe method, and is not associated with increased hemofilter clotting. However, increased postfilter iCa level is recommended.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2011

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with mortality and may lead to increased medical expense. A modified criteria (pediatric RIFLE [pRIFLE]: Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage renal disease) has been proposed to standardize the definition of AKI. The common causes of AKI are renal ischemia, nephrotoxic medications, and sepsis. A majority of critically ill children develop AKI by the pRIFLE criteria and need to receive intensive care early in the course of AKI. Factors influencing patient survival (pediatric intensive care unit discharge) are known to be low blood pressure at the onset of renal replacement therapy (RRT), the use of vasoactive pressors during RRT, and the degrees of fluid overload at the initiation of RRT. Early intervention of continuous RRT (CRRT) has been introduced to reduce mortality and fluid overload that affects poor prognosis in patients with AKI. Here, we briefly review the practical prescription of pediatric CRRT and literatures on the outcomes of patients with AKI receiving CRRT and associations among AKI, fluid overload, and CRRT. In conclusion, we suggest that an increased emphasis should be placed on the early initiation of CRRT and fluid overload in the management of pediatric AKI.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2014

Purpose: Nafamostat mesilate (NM), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, has been investigated as an anticoagulant for adult patients with a high risk of bleeding, who need chronic renal replacement therapy (CRRT). However, little is known about the use of NM as an anticoagulant in pediatric CRRT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ideal dosage, efficacy, and safety of NM in pediatric CRRT. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 40 pediatric patients who had undergone at least 24 h of venovenous CRRTs between January 2011 and October 2013. We divided the patients according to risk of bleeding. Those at high risk received no anticoagulation (group 1) or NM as an anticoagulant (group 2), while those at low risk received heparin (group 3). Results: Forty patients (25 male and 15 female; mean age, $8.2{\pm}6.6$ years) were enrolled. The mean duration of CRRT was 13.0 days, and the survival rate was 57.5%. The mean hemofilter lifespan was 39.3 h in group 1 and 11.3 h in group 3. In group 2, hemofilter lifespan was extended from 7.5 h to 27.4 h after the use of NM (P =0.001). The mean hemofilter lifespan with NM was greater than with heparin (P =0.018). No patient experienced a major bleeding event during treatment with NM. Conclusion: NM may be a good alternative anticoagulant in pediatric patients with a high risk of bleeding requiring CRRT, and is not associated with bleeding complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated mortality and morbidity in patients requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after operations for congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: CHD patients requiring postoperative ECMO support between May 2011 and May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into non-survivors and survivors to hospital discharge. Survival outcomes and associations of various factors with in-hospital death were analyzed. Results: Fifty patients required postoperative ECMO support. Patients' median age and weight at the time of ECMO insertion were 1.85 months (interquartile range [IQR], 0.23-14.5 months) and 3.84 kg (IQR, 3.08-7.88 kg), respectively. Twenty-nine patients (58%) were male. The median duration of ECMO support was 6 days (IQR, 3-12 days). Twenty-nine patients (58%) died on ECMO support or after ECMO weaning, and 21 (42%) survived to hospital discharge. Postoperative complications included renal failure (n=33, 66%), bleeding (n=11, 22%), and sepsis (n=15, 30%). Prolonged ECMO support (p=0.017), renal failure (p=0.005), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) application (p=0.001), sepsis (p=0.012), bleeding (p=0.032), and high serum lactate (p=0.002) and total bilirubin (p=0.017) levels during ECMO support were associated with higher mortality risk in a univariate analysis. A multivariable analysis identified CRRT application (p=0.013) and a high serum total bilirubin level (p=0.001) as independent risk factors for death. Conclusion: Postcardiotomy ECMO should be considered as an important therapeutic modality for patients unresponsive to conventional management. ECMO implementation strategies and management in appropriate patients without severe complications, particularly renal failure and/or liver failure, are crucial for achieving positive outcomes.