title: Furosemide versus ethacrynic acid in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical effects of furosemide (F) and ethacrynic acid (EA) continuous infusion on urine output (UO), fluid balance, and renal, cardiac, respiratory, and metabolic function were compared in infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized double-blinded study was conducted. Patients received 0.2 mg/kg/h (up to 0.8 mg/kg/h) of either F or EA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 38 patients were enrolled in the F group, and 36, in the EA group. No adverse reactions were recorded. UO at postoperative day (POD) 0 was significantly higher in the EA group, 6.9 (3.3) ml/kg/h, compared with the F group, 4.6 (2.3) ml/kg/h (P = 0.002) but tended to be similar in the two groups thereafter. Mean administered F dose was 0.33 (0.19) mg/kg/h compared with 0.22 (0.13) mg/kg/h of EA (P < 0.0001). Fluid balance was significantly more negative in the EA group at postoperative day 0: -43 (54) ml/kg/h versus -17 (32) ml/kg/h in the F group (P = 0.01). Serum creatinine, cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels and incidence of acute kidney injury did not show significant differences between groups. Metabolic alkalosis occurred frequently (about 70% of cases) in both groups, but mean bicarbonate level was higher in the EA group: 27.8 (1.5) M in the F group versus 29.1 (2) mM in the EA group (P = 0.006). Mean cardiac index (CI) values were 2.6 (0.1) L/min/m(2) in the F group compared with 2.98 (0.09) L/min/m(2) in the EA group (P = 0.0081). Length of mechanical ventilation was shorter in the EA group, 5.5 (8.8) days compared with the F group, 6.7 (5.9) (P = 0.06). Length of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) admission was shorter in the EA group: 14 (19) days compared with 16 (15) in the F group (P = 0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cardiac surgery infants, EA produced more UO compared with F on POD0. Generally, a smaller EA dose is required to achieve similar UO than F. EA and F were safe in terms of renal function, but EA caused a more-intense metabolic alkalosis. EA patients achieved better CI, and shorter mechanical ventilation and PCICU admission time.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01628731. Registered 24 June 2012.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. z.ricci@libero.it.
authors.forename: Zaccaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. rhaiber31@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haiberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. pezzellachiara@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pezzella
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. cristiana.garisto@opbg.net.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garisto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. isabella.favia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Favia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. paola.cogo@opbg.net.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cogo
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004976:Ethacrynic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide; D004976:Ethacrynic Acid