Pearls • The stress response is a universal, stereotypical, and integrated neurogenic, endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic systems response with multiple feed-forward and feed-backward modulation signaling designed to maximize host survival….
Pearls • Cellular respiration is largely coordinated in the mitochondria and normally aligns energy demand with energy production. In critical illness, disruption of cellular bioenergetic homeostasis may be a final…
Pearls • Acute severe hypertension, defined as significant blood pressure (BP) elevation with or without evidence of acute hypertensive target-organ damage, requires prompt therapy to prevent and/or ameliorate further target-organ…
Pearls • The kidney is the primary elimination pathway for the majority of medications. Thus, understanding appropriate dosing for patients in acute and chronic renal impairment is imperative to avoid…
Pearls • Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage renal disease; children have high priority in the deceased donor allocation policy. • Upon arrival in the…
Pearls • Patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) require careful monitoring of fluid and electrolyte balance and nutritional needs. • Coordination between the critical care and nephrology staff is essential…
Pearls • Acute kidney injury (AKI) has replaced the term acute kidney failure . There are more than 30 definitions of AKI in children. Use of the pediatric Risk, Injury,…
Pearls • Serum creatinine is a crude assessment of filtration, influenced by several factors other than glomerular function, including gender, age, muscle mass, dilution, concentration relative to steady state, lack…
Pearls • Development of the definitive human kidney or metanephros begins at 5 weeks’ gestation and is complete by 34 to 36 weeks’ gestation, with an average of 1 million…
Pearls • Abnormalities in acid-base balance should be anticipated in all critically ill children due to their underlying disease or intensive care unit therapy and should be monitored closely. •…
