Continuous renal replacement therapy in children after cardiac surgery

This prospective observational study compared outcomes in children undergoing cardiac surgery and requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) to other critically ill children also requiring CRRT.  Of 1650 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, 5% required CRRT and 80% of those patients had multiorgan failure.  43% of those requiring CRRT after cardiac surgery died compared to 29% of other children requiring CRRT.  In multivariable analysis, the only factor related to an increased risk of mortality on CRRT was hypotension at the time of instituting CRRT.