title: Low-dose and heparin-free hemodialysis in children.
abstract: Successful heparin-free hemodialysis has been reported in adults but not in children. A preliminary study was carried out to determine whether heparin-free hemodialysis was possible in children who were considered to have a high risk of bleeding, and if so, to identify the children in whom this technique might be expected to succeed. Of 28 heparin-free procedures, 21 (75%) were successful, a major clot developed in 4, and a minor clot occurred in 3. These children were 6.76 +/- 4.57 years old and weighed 20.7 +/- 11.3 kg. An activated clotting time (ACT) of less than 170 s was recorded in five of the six patients in whom clotting was observed (normal value 146 s with a range of 110-180 s). In a second prospective study, low-dose heparin was prescribed for patients with an ACT of less than 170 s, while the remaining children again underwent heparin-free dialysis. In this study only those patients with double-lumen vascular access and a predialysis systolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg were included. Their mean age was 12.25 +/- 4.61 years and their weights 32.9 +/- 19.3 Kg. In 28 of 31 (90%) procedures, no clotting was observed. Minor clotting developed during the remaining 3 procedures, all in one child who weighed 8.5 kg (the only child weighing less than 10 kg). Heparin (9.6 +/- 3.2 IU/kg body weight per hour) was administered during 18 successful procedures. This study shows that heparin-free hemodialysis is possible in children, particularly, but not exclusively, those with a coagulopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajaria
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fryer-Keene
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willumsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006493:Heparin