Implementing a practice change: early initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy during neonatal extracorporeal life support standardizes care and improves short-term outcomes

Purpose

We hypothesized that a standardized approach to early continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during neonatal extracorporeal life support (ECLS) results in greater homogeneity of CRRT initiation times with improvements in fluid balance and outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of data (2007–2015) obtained from neonates treated prior to (E1; n?=?32) and after (E2; n?=?31) a 2011 practice change: CRRT initiation within 48 h of ECLS.

Results

Birthweight, gestational age, ECLS mode, and age at ECLS initiation were similar to each epoch. Survival E1: median 75%, E2: 71%] and length of ECLS E1: median 221 h, E2: 180 h] were comparable. During E2, 100% of infants received CRRT (vs. E1: 37%; p?<?0.001) and 97% of infants initiated CRRT within 48 h of ECLS (vs. E1: 13%; p?<?0.001). Control charts demonstrate reduced practice variation. Elapsed time from ECLS to CRRT differed between Epochs E1: median 105 h, E2: 9 h; p?<?0.001] as did weight at CRRT initiation E1: 4.13 kg (29% above baseline), E2: 3.19 kg (0%); p?<?0.001]. Significant differences in weight change were noted on days 6 and 7 (E1: 14%, E2: 2%; raw data comparison yielded p?<?0.05) and curves were different (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

We successfully implemented a practice change, initiating CRRT within 48 h of ECLS cannulation, leading to decreased practice variation and improved short-term outcomes including decreased weight gain at CRRT initiation and faster return to baseline weight during the first 7 days of ECLS. We did not demonstrate changes in duration of ECLS, invasive ventilation, or survival.