Post-liver transplant acute renal failure: factors predicting development of end-stage renal disease

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in 5-50% of patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to determine factors that might predict the development of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients who had ARF after OLT. METHODS: We studied all OLT recipients between 9/1/1988 through 12/31/2000. RESULTS: A total of 1602 patients underwent OLT during the study period. About 350 patients (22%) developed ARF requiring dialysis post-operatively. One hundred and twenty-three (39.8%) died within a year after OLT. Median follow up was 5.8 yr (range 1-12 yr). Forty-three patients (23%) developed ESRD over median of 3.79 yr (range 1-8 yr). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed creatinine levels > 1.7 mg/dL at 1 yr (p < 0.001), cyclosporine as immunosuppression (p = 0.026), and the presence of diabetes pre-OLT (p < 0.001) to be associated with the development of ESRD. The development of ESRD did not decrease patient survival (p = 0.111). ESRD patients who received subsequent kidney transplantation had significantly improved survival rates (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Serum creatinine levels at 1 yr, cyclosporine as immunosuppression, and the presence of diabetes pre-OLT are independent predictive factors for the development of ESRD. ESRD patients who received kidney transplantation had higher 10-yr survival rates when compared with patients maintained on dialysis.     

Effects of different energy intakes on nitrogen balance in patients with acute renal failure: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Thus far, there have been no controlled studies to examine optimal levels of energy provision in critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF) receiving artificial nutrition. METHODS: After a 24 h nitrogen-free regimen (20% dextrose), we assigned during an open-label, AB/BA-crossover-trial, 10 ARF patients receiving both total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and renal replacement therapy (seven males; mean age 72 years, range 60-83; mean APACHE II score 27.1, range 23-34, mechanical ventilation 8/10) to a lower calorie-TPN regimen (30 kcal/kg/day) and to a higher calorie-TPN regimen (40 kcal/kg/day), each for 3 days. Nitrogen intake was 0.25 g/kg/day for both regimens. We estimated nitrogen balance, protein catabolic rate and urea generation rate by urea kinetic methods based on both timed blood samples of serum urea and direct urea quantification from dialysis fluid. RESULTS: Two patients were excluded from the analysis (due to death and serum triglycerides above 5.1 mmol/l, respectively). Compared with the lower calorie-TPN, the higher calorie-TPN regimen did not improve estimated nitrogen balance [+1.55 g/day (95% confidence interval: -0.95 to +4.05, P = 0.18)], protein catabolic rate [-0.10 g/kg/day (-0.33 to +0.14, P = 0.35)], or urea generation rate [-1.3 mg/min (-5.2 to +2.7, P = 0.46)], whereas it increased serum triglycerides [+1.36 mmol/l (+0.53 to +2.19, P = 0.007)], glucose [+1.15 mmol/l (+0.07 to +2.24, P = 0.041)], insulin need [+20.4 U/day (+8.3 to +32.6, P = 0.006)] and nutritional fluid administration [+468 ml/day (+370 to +566, P<0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS: The present study, conducted in a small group of subjects, shows that in critically ill patients with ARF on a nitrogen intake of 0.25 g/kg/day, an energy provision of 40 kcal/kg/day does not improve nitrogen balance estimates compared with a 30 kcal/kg/day intake; instead, it may increase the risk of artificial nutrition-related side-effects.     

心脏术后低排综合征致急性肾功能衰竭的腹膜透析治疗

目的　探讨腹膜透析对心脏术后低排综合征 (LOS)致急性肾功能衰竭 (ARF)的疗效。方法　 2 4例心脏术后引起LOS合并多脏器功能衰竭 (MSOF)致ARF者 ,因不适合血液透析 (HD) ,于确诊后 2 4小时内进行腹膜透析 (PD)治疗。结果　 12例患者多脏器严重衰竭死亡 ,9例患者PD 3～30天内肾功能恢复 ,3例治疗后病情好转 ,自动出院。结论　心脏术后LOS致MOSF合并有ARF者 ,PD具有较好的治疗效果。     

Outcome in a post-cardiac surgery population with acute renal failure requiring dialysis: does age make a difference?

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF), requiring dialysis (ARF-d), develops in 1-5% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Age is one of the known risk factors for the development of ARF. As the ageing population is increasing, the nephrologist will be faced with a large population of elderly patients requiring dialysis following cardiac surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of age on and the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with ARF following cardiac surgery and requiring dialysis between January 1997 and October 2001 were included. Two groups of patients were studied: the younger population (<70 years, 42 patients, mean age 59+/-10) and an elderly population (>/=70 years, 40 patients, mean age 76+/-4). Severity of disease was evaluated using the SAPS (Simplified Acute Physiology Score), the Liano score and the SHARF (Stuivenberg Hospital Acute Renal Failure) score. RESULTS: Overall mortality in the population with ARF-d was 56.1%. No difference in mortality rate was found between the younger (61.9%) and elderly patient group (50.0%). The two groups were very similar in baseline and procedural characteristics with exception of body weight (P=0.02) and preoperative glomerular filtration rate (P=0.0001). No significant difference was found in the scoring systems between the old and the young (SAPS P=0.52; Liano P=0.96; SHARF T0 P=0.06; SHARF T48 P=0.15). Mortality in the elderly was significantly correlated with hypotension before starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) (P=0.002), mechanical ventilation (P=0.002), presence of multiorgan failure (MOF) (P=0.0001) and higher scores in the severity models (SAPS: P=0.01; Liano: P<0.0001 and SHARF: P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The outcome in the elderly requiring dialysis due to ARF post-cardiac surgery is comparable with the outcome in a younger population. No significant difference was found in severity of disease between the elderly and the younger. Variables predicting mortality in the elderly are the presence of MOF, mechanical ventilation and hypotension 24 h before starting RRT. These findings indicate that at the time the nephrologist is called for an elderly patient requiring dialysis due to ARF following cardiac surgery, age per se is not a reason to withhold RRT.     

Acute renal failure in patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction following coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: Pre-existing renal dysfunction predisposes to acute renal failure (ARF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We assessed the incidence and impact of the development of ARF in this patient population in our unit. METHODS: One-hundred and six patients had a preoperative serum creatinine of >or=0.13 mmol/L and underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in the year 2000. The incidence of ARF (as defined by a >or=50% rise in postoperative serum creatinine), hospitalization days, dialysis requirement, in-hospital and 1-year mortality, and potential risk factors for ARF were recorded. RESULTS: Of the patients recorded, 43/104 (41.35%) developed ARF following coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients with ARF stayed in hospital longer (P < 0.02). Ten out of forty-three patients required some form of dialysis and the in-hospital mortality of the renal failure group was 23% compared to 3.1% in the other group (P < 0.002). One year postoperatively, the group with renal failure had significantly worse survival (71.8% vs 98%P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, pre-existing renal dysfunction predisposes to the development of ARF, this is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality.     

Risk factors for acute renal failure requiring dialysis after surgery for congenital heart disease in children

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on the risk factors for acute renal failure (ARF) following cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease. This cohort study was conducted to examine this subject, as well as changes in the incidence of ARF from 1993 to 2002, the in-hospital mortality and the time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: One thousand, one hundred and twenty-eight children, operated on for congenital heart disease between 1993 and 2002, were identified from our prospectively collected ICU database to obtain data on potential risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 130 children (11.5%) developed ARF after surgery. A young age [> or =1.0 vs. <0.1 year; odds ratio (OR), 0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12-0.46], high Risk Adjusted Classification of Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) score (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.66-4.45) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (<90 min vs. none; OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.03-6.96; > or =90 min vs. none; OR, 12.94; 95% CI, 5.46-30.67) were independent risk factors for ARF. The risk of ARF decreased during the study period. Children with ARF spent a significantly longer time in the ICU (2-7 days vs. <2 days, P = 0.002; > or =7 days vs. <2 days, P < 0.001) compared with non-ARF patients, and showed increased in-hospital mortality (20% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A young age, high RACHS-1 score and CPB were independent risk factors for ARF after surgical procedures for congenital heart disease in children. The risk of ARF decreased during the study period. Children with severe ARF spent a longer time in the ICU, and the mortality in ARF patients was higher than that in non-ARF patients.     

Postrenal acute renal failure during pregnancy 20 years after antireflux surgery

We report that a 27-year-old woman with bilateral severe hydronephorosis during pregnancy 20 years after antireflux surgery. The patient developed postrenal acute renal failure due to obstruction of the lower ureter. This patient could safely give birth after bilateral percutaneous nephrostomy through joint management with the obstetrics and gynecology staff. We describe that stenosis of the lower ureter is a late complication of antireflux surgery.     

Factors associated with acute kidney injury or failure in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass: a case-controlled study

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication that occurs commonly following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants and children. Underlying risk factors for AKI remain unclear, given changes in CPB practices during recent years. This retrospective, case–control study examined the relationships between patient, perioperative factors, AKI, and kidney failure in children who underwent CPB. Methods: Cohorts of children with and without AKI were identified from the cardiac perfusion and nephrology consult databases. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative outcome data were extracted from the databases and from medical records. Children were stratified into groups based on the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative’s RIFLE definitions for acute kidney risk or injury (AKI‐RI) and kidney failure. Results: The study groups included 308 controls (no AKI‐RI or failure), 161 with AKI‐RI, and 89 with failure. Young age, preoperative need for mechanical ventilation, milrinone, or gentamicin; intraoperative use of milrinone and furosemide; durations of CPB and anesthesia; multiple cross‐clamp and transfusion of blood products were significantly associated with AKI or failure. Young age, perioperative use of milrinone, multiple cross‐clamps, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, cardiac failure, neurological complications, sepsis, and failure significantly increased the odds of mortality. Conclusion: This study identified multiple perioperative risk factors for AKI‐RI, failure, and mortality in children undergoing CPB. In addition to commonly known risk factors, perioperative use of milrinone, particularly in young infants, and furosemide were independently predictive of poor renal outcomes in this sample. Findings suggest a need for the development of protocols aimed at renal protection in specific at risk patients.     

Early Initiation of Peritoneal Dialysis after Arterial Switch Operations in Newborn Patients

Background and aim: We investigated the clinical outcome of early initiated peritoneal dialysis (PD) use in our newborn patients who underwent arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and had routine intraoperative PD catheter implantation. We determined the risk factors for PD, factors associated with prolonged PD, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of the present study was to describe our experience of using PD in this patient cohort. Materials and Methods: Eighty two patients who were diagnosed with TGA and TGA-ventricular septal defect (VSD) and who had undergone TGA correction operation in Ba?kent University, Istanbul Medical Research and Training Hospital between 2007 and 2012 were retrospectively investigated. All the patients were under 30 days old. PD catheters were routinely implanted intraoperatively at the end of the operation. PD was initiated in transient renal insufficiency. In the absence of oliguria and increased creatinine level, PD was established in the presence of one of the following: clinical signs of fluid overload, hyperkalemia (>5 mEq/L), persistent metabolic acidosis, lactate level above 8 mmol/L or low cardiac output syndrome. The patients were divided into two groups according to the need for postoperative PD (PD group and non-PD group). PD was initiated in 32 (39%) patients after the operation, whereas 50 (61%) patients did not need dialysis. The clinical outcomes and perioperative data of the two groups were compared. Results: The demographics in the two groups were similar. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer in the PD group [non-PD group, 175.24 ± 32.39 min; PD group, 196.22 ± 44.04 min (p < 0.05)]. Coronary anomaly was found to be higher in the PD group [non-PD group, n = 2 patients (4.0%); PD group, n = 7 patients (21.9%); p < 0.05]. There was more need for PD in TGA + VSD patients [simple TGA patients, n = 14; TGA + VSD patients, n = 18 (p < 0.05)]. PD rate was higher in patients whose sterna were left open at the end of the operation (p < 0.05). The ventilator time [non-PD group, 4.04 ± 1.51 days; PD group, 8.12 ± 5.21 days (p < 0.01)], intensive care unit stay time [non-PD group, 7.98 ± 5.80 days; PD group, 15.93 ± 18.31 days (p < 0.01)], and hospital stay time were significantly longer in the PD group [non-PD group, 14.98 ± 10.14 days; PD group, 22.84 ± 20.87 days (p < 0.01)]. Conclusion: We advocate routine implantation of PD catheters to patients with TGA-VSD, coronary artery anomaly, and open sternum in which we have determined high rate of postoperative PD need.     

Peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure in children

Fifty infants and children with acute renal failure were treated with acute peritoneal dialysis between 1987 and 1990. The patients were dialyzed using either a catheter introduced percutaneously over a guide-wire (n=40) or a Tenckhoff catheter (n=10). The cause of the acute renal failure was primary renal disease in 17 children, cardiac disease in 19, and trauma/sepsis in 14. Peritoneal dialysis succeeded in controlling metabolic abnormalities, improving fluid balance, and relieving the complications of uremia. The procedure had few major complications. Overall mortality was 50%, reflecting the serious nature of the underlying diseases. We conclude that acute peritoneal dialysis is a safe and effective treatment in most pediatric patients with acute renal failure. Our series of patients treated with acute peritoneal dialysis serves as a basis of comparison for the evaluation of new modalities of therapy in childhood acute renal failure.     

Increased levels of S-100 protein after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and general surgery in children

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in concentrations of the neurospecific protein S-100 in relation to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and noncardiac general surgery in children below 3 years of age. Seventeen children underwent surgery for congenital heart disease and all survived without clinical signs of neurological complications. Samples for plasma concentrations of S-100 in these patients were taken on three occasions in connection with surgery: before the start of surgery, after CPB and finally 16-20 h after CPB. In the noncardiac group of 31 children, S-100 concentrations were measured on two occasions: before surgery and during surgery. In both groups, a significant increase in S-100 concentrations was observed during surgery, although the increase in the CPB group was significantly higher than in the noncardiac group. The CPB group included four children with Down's syndrome who had higher mean S-100 concentrations on all sampling occasions compared to the remaining patients. The peak S-100 concentrations after cardiac surgery were related to the duration of CPB, the time from the termination of CPB to the first post-CPB sample, as well as mean arterial pressure and cerebral arteriovenous lactate difference during rewarming. All the children studied (Down's patients excluded) had age-dependent plasma concentrations of S-100 measured before surgery. It can be concluded that CPB initiates a marked but transient release of S-100 into the systemic circulation during open heart surgery in children who are not developing clinical signs of neurological sequelae.     

Short-term niflumic-acid-induced acute renal failure in children

Several reports emphasize the adverse effects of non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on renal function. We haveobserved over the last 10 years seven cases of acute renal failure(ARF) due to immune interstitial nephritis in children. A recommendedoral or rectal dose of niflumic acid was prescribed for ear-nose-throatdisorders, Length of exposure was 1–5 days. Clinical symptoms (oedema, oliguria or anuria) appeared between3 and 6 days. Three patients had previously received the drug.Hypersensitivity signs (fever, skin rash, eosinophilia, and/orincreased IgE) were present in all cases, leukocyturia in fivecases, and haematuria in six cases. Renal biopsy showed interstitiallesions with lymphocyte, eosinophil, and plasma cell infiltrateswithout tubular cell necrosis. Glomeruli were normal on light-microscopy,except in one patient. Electron-microscopy showed extensivepodocyte fusion in two patients, who had clinical and laboratoryevidence of nephrotic syndrome (NS). ARF rapidly disappeared after NSAID withdrawal, except in twopatients whose renal failure was irreversible despite methylprednisolonebolus. ARF is very rare in children treated with niflumic acid.When ARF occurs, different pathophysiological mechanisms areinvolved but the most common is immunological.     

Twelve years experience of acute renal failure in Taiwan

Summary: A retrospective analysis of the records of 287 patients diagnosed with acute renal failure (ARF) who were admitted between 1 January 1983 and 30 November 1994 to the emergency Service Department of the National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan was conducted. A total of 176 men (61.3%) and 111 women (38.7%) were surveyed. the classification of ARF by year revealed a progressive increase in case numbers. the majority (57.5%) of the patients were elderly, particularly in the years 1987-88 and 1993-94, the differences (aged compared with the young) being statistically significant. There were 176 patients (61.3%) in the pre-renal group (with evident intravascular volume depletion, haemodynamic instability or sepsis, with a urine excretion of sodium (FE_Na<1%), 43 (15%) in the renal group (urine analysis revealing protenuria, granular casts or/and tubular epithelial casts and without response to treatment of volume repletion), and 27 (9.4%) in the postrenal group (diagnosed when there were supporting image studies). Overall mortality was 63% and the pre-renal ARF patients had the poorest survival rate (25.6%). the classification of mortality rates by diagnostic category and year revealed a persistently high mortality rate. We conclude that: there are increasing patients with ARF each year; aged patients comprise the majority of cases; and the mortality rate remains high because of the high mortality rate of the pre-renal group, which was due to the presence of complicating underlying diseases and concomitant organ failure. the effects of having an ageing population were also apparent.     

Adequacy of peritoneal dialysis in children following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

Acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy can complicate cardiopulmonary bypass in children. Peritoneal dialysis has been shown to stabilize electrolytes and improve fluid status in these patients. To assess dialysis adequacy in this setting, we prospectively measured Kt/V and creatinine clearance in five patients (6–839 days of age) requiring renal replacement therapy at our institution. Median dialysis creatinine clearance was 74.25 L/week/1.73m² (range 28.28–96.63 L/week/1.73m²). Residual renal function provided additional solute clearance as total creatinine clearance was 215.97 L/week/1.73m² (range 108.04–323.25 L/week/1.73m²). Dialysis Kt/V of >2.1 (median 4.84 [range 2.12–5.59]) was achieved in all patients. No dialysis-associated complications were observed. We conclude that peritoneal dialysis is a safe, simple method of providing adequate clearance in children who develop acute renal failure following exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass.     

Peritonitis in children with automated peritoneal dialysis: a single-center study of a 10-year experience

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) constitutes the preferred dialysis modality for children requiring renal replacement therapy with peritonitis being one of the most common complications of PD. This study was performed to evaluate the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcomes of PD-associated peritonitis in Greek children for a 10-year period. A total of 27 patients (16 males) with a mean age 121.8?±?57.2 months were retrospective analyzed. Patients were on PD therapy for a mean duration of 45.2?±?26.1 months. We found 23 episodes of PD-associated peritonitis occurred in 9 out of 27 patients (0.23 episodes/patient-year), with four patients experienced two or more peritonitis episodes. Gram-positive bacteria were responsible for 15 (65.2%) peritonitis episodes, with Staphylococcus aureus being the predominant specie isolated in 30.4% of cases. A total of seven episodes of exit-site infections (ESIs) were identified in five patients (0.069 episodes/patient-year) with the most common bacteria isolated being S. aureus (57.4%). Initial antibiotic treatment included intraperitoneal vancomycin plus ceftazidime in the majority of cases (82.6%). At the end of study, 12 (44.4%) patients remained on PD, 11 (41.8%) underwent renal transplantation, 2 (7.4%) shifted to hemodialysis and unfortunately, two patients (7.4%) died. Conclusively, our study revealed a noticeable low peritonitis and ESIs rate as compared to international data and represents the first evaluation of the characteristics and outcomes of peritonitis in the Greek pediatric PD population.     

A retrospective 5-year study in Moldova of acute renal failure due to leptospirosis: 58 cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Renal involvement [as acute renal failure (ARF)] is a prominent feature of both mild and severe leptospirosis-a re-emerging infectious disease. Few large series describe in detail clinical and laboratory features of cases with ARF and their outcome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis (1997-2001) of all consecutive, serological confirmed leptospirosis cases with ARF (n=58, 53 male, age 44+/-13 years, rural residents=31%, animal contact=88%. RESULTS: Clinical manifestations (>50% prevalence): oliguria 95%, fever and jaundice 93%, nausea and vomiting 83%, haemorrhagic diathesis 80%, headache, hepatomegaly 76%, myalgias, abdominal pain 70%, hypotension 62%, disturbed consciousness 50%. A pattern of multiple organ failure (MOF) was frequent: ARF together with hepatic failure in 72%, respiratory failure in 38%, circulatory failure in 33%, pancreatitis in 25% and rhabdomyolysis in 5% of cases. Renal dysfunction: 35% of cases had a renal K(+)-wasting defect and 43% a FE(Na)(+)>1% and low-osmolarity urine despite volume depletion. Haematuria was encountered in 12 and mild proteinuria in 10 subjects. Outcome: 26% deaths, 64% normal hepatic and renal function at 90 days from presentation (however 29% maintained the initial tubular defect), 10% persistent mild renal failure. All deceased patients had, beside ARF, at least two other organ failures, affected consciousness, and haemorrhagic diathesis vs a prevalence for the above features of only 34, 33, and 72%, respectively, in the survivors group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Leptospirosis presenting with ARF is a severe disease, frequently leading to MOF and to death in one-third of the patients. In particular, the haemorrhagic diathesis and cerebral involvement are markers for unfavourable patient and renal outcomes.     

Acute renal failure in patients with malnutrition following mitral valve replacement

A retrospective study of 161 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement with or without other valve surgery was undertaken to examine the relation between cardiac cachexia and postoperative acute renal failure. The preoperative nutritional state was assessed according to percent of the ideal body weight (W/IW). There were 37 malnourished patients (W/IW<0.80) and 124 normally nourished patients (W/IW>=0.80). In nineteen in the malnourished group (51 per cent) and 37 of normal-nourished (28 per cent), postoperative acute renal failure developed. Malnourished patients showed a severe clinical picture preoperatively a complicated operative procedures had to be carried out. To match these clinical factors between the two groups, the observation was limited to the high risk patients who showed severe New York Heart Association Functional Class (III or IV) large cardiothoracic ratio (more than 65 per cent), and long cardio-pulmonary bypass time (exceeding 120 minutes). Even in this subgroup, malnourished patients were susceptible to renal failure (64 per centVersus 20 per cent, malnourishedversus normalnourished repectively). Thus when malnutrition is superimposed on diminished cardiac performance, acute renal failure may ensure.     

Thyroid function during and after cardiopulmonary bypass in children

Background: The aim of the study was to elucidate the changes in thyroid function during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children.
Methods: Triiodothronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined preoperatively, at specific times throughout CPB, and serially up to 48 h postoperatively, in 10 children (median age 35, range 23–68 months) undergoing elective surgery for congenital heart disease.
Results: T3 decreased from 2.01±0.08 preoperatively to 0.94±0.10 nmol/1 24 h postoperatively ( P <0.05). T4 levels followed a pattern similar to changes in T3. FT4 increased from 17.4±0.7 preoperatively to 30.0±0.4 pmol/1 after 30 min of CPB ( P <0.05). TSH decreased from 2.44±0.43 preoperatively to 0.93±0.21 24 h postoperatively ( P <0.05).
Conclusion: T3, T4 and TSH are significantly depressed after open heart surgery in children.