Challenges of renal replacement therapy in children with acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children is a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality. It affects approximatively 5% of patients with almost half of them requiring renal replacement therapy. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on challenges of current available pediatric renal replacement therapy practices and proposes a decision making algorithm for their use in critically ill children with AKI. Keywords: acute kidney injury; pediatrics; pediatric intensive care unit; peritoneal dialysis; renal replacement therapy; continuous renal replacement therapy; intermittent hemodialysis Received: March 18, 2014; Accepted: June 4, 2014; Published: November 3, 2014 Corresponding Author: Aicha Merouani, Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, 3175, Cote Sainte Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal (Quebec), Canada. E-mail: aicha.merouani.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca .