Association of early hyponatremia and the development of acute kidney injury in critically ill children

Nutrition in critically ill children with acute kidney injury on continuous kidney replacement therapy: a 2023 executive summary

OBJECTIVES

Nutrition plays a vital role in the outcome of critical illness in children, particularly those with acute kidney injury. Currently, there are no established guidelines for children with acute kidney injury treated with continuous kidney replacement therapy. Our objective was to create clinical practice points for nutritional assessment and management in critically ill children with acute kidney injury receiving continuous kidney replacement therapy.

METHODS

An electronic search using PubMed and an inclusive academic library search (including MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases) was conducted to find relevant English-language articles on nutrition therapy for children (<18 y of age) receiving continuous kidney replacement therapy.

RESULTS

The existing literature was reviewed by our work group, comprising pediatric nephrologists and experts in nutrition. The modified Delphi method was then used to develop a total of 45 clinical practice points. The best methods for nutritional assessment are discussed. Indirect calorimetry is the most reliable method of predicting resting energy expenditure in children on continuous kidney replacement therapy. Schofield equations can be used when indirect calorimetry is not available. The non-intentional calories contributed by continuous kidney replacement therapy should also be accounted for during caloric dosing. Protein supplementation should be increased to account for the proteins, peptides, and amino acids lost with continuous kidney replacement therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical practice points are provided on nutrition assessment, determining energy needs, and nutrient intake in children with acute kidney injury and on continuous kidney replacement therapy based on the existing literature and expert opinions of a multidisciplinary panel.

Nutrition in Critically Ill Children with AKI on Continuous RRT: Consensus Recommendations

BACKGROUND

Nutrition plays a vital role in the outcome of critically ill children, particularly those with AKI. Currently, there are no established guidelines for children with AKI treated with continuous RRT (CRRT). A thorough understanding of the metabolic changes and nutritional challenges in AKI and CRRT is required. Our objective was to create clinical practice points for nutritional assessment and management in critically ill children with AKI receiving CRRT.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched for articles related to the topic. Expertise of the authors and a consensus of the workgroup were additional sources of data in the article. Available articles on nutrition therapy in pediatric patients receiving CRRT through January 2023.

RESULTS

On the basis of the literature review, the current evidence base was examined by a panel of experts in pediatric nephrology and nutrition. The panel used the literature review as well as their expertise to formulate clinical practice points. The modified Delphi method was used to identify and refine clinical practice points.

CONCLUSIONS

Forty-four clinical practice points are provided on nutrition assessment, determining energy needs, and nutrient intake in children with AKI and on CRRT on the basis of the existing literature and expert opinions of a multidisciplinary panel.

Risk and Timing of De Novo Sepsis in Critically Ill Children after Acute Kidney Injury

Key Points

Critically ill children who developed AKI have a 42% increase in the probability of developing subsequent hospital-acquired sepsis when compared with children without AKI. When evaluating risk of sepsis over time, children with stage 3 AKI remain at increased risk for sepsis for at least 2 weeks after AKI onset. Medical providers should monitor for signs of sepsis after AKI and limit exposures that may increase the risk for infection.

Background

AKI is common among critically ill children and is associated with an increased risk for de novo infection; however, little is known about the epidemiology and temporal relationship between AKI and AKI-associated infection in this cohort.

Methods

We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of children admitted to the pediatric and cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) at a tertiary pediatric care center. The relationship between nonseptic AKI and the development of hospital-acquired sepsis was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models using AKI as a time-varying covariate.

Results

Among the 5695 children included in this study, AKI occurred in 20.2% from ICU admission through 30 days. Hospital-acquired sepsis occurred twice as often among children with AKI compared with those without AKI (10.1% versus 4.6%) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.81). Among the 117 children who developed sepsis after AKI, 80.3% developed sepsis within 7 days and 96.6% within 14 days of AKI onset, with a median time from AKI onset to sepsis of 2.6 days (interquartile range, 1.5–4.7). When assessing change in risk over time, the hazard rate for sepsis remained elevated for children with stage 3 AKI compared with children without AKI at 13.5 days after AKI onset, after which the estimation of hazard rates was limited by the number of children remaining in the hospital.

Conclusions

AKI is an independent risk factor for de novo sepsis. Critically ill children with stage 3 AKI remain at increased risk for sepsis at 13.5 days after AKI onset.