DIALYTIC MANAGEMENT OF CHILDHOOD ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE - A SURVEY OF NORTH-AMERICAN PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGISTS

A 35-question survey was mailed to 19 pediatric nephrologists regardin g dialytic management of acute renal failure (ARF). Fifteen surveys we re returned (79%). The purpose of the survey was to determine which re nal replacement therapies (RRT) are most frequently used in the manage ment of children with ARF in North America. Nephrologists were also qu estioned about clinical factors that influence the decisions to initia te RRT and choice of a particular modality. Survey results showed that hemofil tration was the initial choice for RRT among nephrologists (m edian value 40%, range 0%-100%) more often in their patients in the pa st 12 months than peritoneal dialysis (median value 30%, range 0%-85%) or hemodialysis (median value 20%, range 0%-50%). Factors considered most important in the decision to initiate dialysis include abnormalit ies in serum potassium, fluid balance, blood pressure and nutritional needs. Patient size and dialysis access were additional factors consid ered important in the choice of RRT modality.