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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has evolved in recent years in clinical practice, helping in early bedside diagnosis of important etiologies. Many medical schools and training programs are integrating POCUS into their curriculum. Especially with the technological advances of newer handheld ultrasound devices, POCUS has now become a component adjunct to clinical examination, in the clinic and bedside in critical care units. The diagnostic utility of POCUS lies both in early identification of critical kidney disease, and also extra-renal pathologies from a focused cardiac ultrasound, lung ultrasound, and integrated fluid assessment. There is a need to incorporate POCUS in training in pediatric nephrology and establish competency standard criteria. This review shall cover how POCUS helps in enhancing patient care in pediatric kidney disorders and critical children, and the recent advances., Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Rupesh Raina [sup.2] , Abhilash Koratala [sup.3] , Afagh Hassanzadeh Rad [sup.4] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.5] , Hamidreza Badeli [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.429252.a, [...]

Background AKI is an important complication post cardiac surgery in children. An early diagnosis can help in mitigating complications and allow for prognostication. Urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) as a biomarker can provide a cheaper and more accessible AKI risk assessment and prediction. There is a paucity of paediatric literature regarding its utility. Methods This was a prospective observational study, enrolling all children aged 1 month to 18 years, who underwent cardiac surgery, with use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Cohort was divided into groups 75.8 mg/g) predicted post-operative AKI after adjusting for clinical variables (adjusted RR, 11.71; 1.85-16.59). In the group aged 141.3 mg/g) predicted post-operative AKI in unadjusted analysis but not after adjusting for clinical variables (RR, 2.78; 0.70-6.65). For AKI risk prediction, AUC (95% CI) was highest after combining clinical model and pre-operative ACR for groups aged < 2 years [0.805 (0.713-0.896)] and [greater than or equal to] 2 years [0.872 (0.772-0.973)]. Conclusions This study provides evidence for use of albuminuria as a feasible biomarker in AKI prediction in children post cardiac surgery, especially when added to a clinical model. Graphical abstract A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., Author(s): Arushi Nautiyal [sup.1] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.2] , Rajesh Sharma [sup.3] , Rupesh Raina [sup.4] , Abhishek Tibrewal [sup.4] , Romel Akole [sup.3] , Aditi Gupta [sup.5] , [...]

Background and objectives Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a rare neurological complication, most commonly affecting patients undergoing new initiation of hemodialysis (HD), but can also be seen in patients receiving chronic dialysis who miss regular treatments, patients having acute kidney injury (AKI), and in those treated with continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Although the pathogenesis is not well understood, DDS is likely a result of multiple physiological abnormalities. In this systematic review, we provide a synopsis of the data available on DDS that allow for a clear picture of its pathogenesis, preventive measures, and focus on effective management strategies. Methods We conducted a literature search on PubMed/Medline and Embase from January 1960 to January 2021. Studies were included if the patient developed DDS irrespective of age and gender. A summary table was used to summarize the data from individual studies and included study type, population group, age group, sample size, patient characteristics, blood and dialysate flow rate, and overall outcome. A descriptive analysis calculating the frequency of population size, symptoms, and various treatments was performed using R software version 3.1.0. Results A total of 49 studies (321 samples) were identified and analyzed. Out of the included 49 studies, a total of 48 studies reported the presence of DSS among patients (1 study reported based on number of dialysis and therefore was not considered for analysis). Among these 48 studies, 74.3% (226/304) patients were reported to have DSS. The most common symptoms were nausea (25.2%), headache (24.8%), vomiting (23.9%), muscle cramps (18.1%), affected level of consciousness (8.8%), confusion (4.4%), and seizure (4.9%) among the 226 DDS patients. Furthermore, 12 studies decided to switch from HD to alternative dialysis modalities including continuous venovenous hemofiltration/hemodiafiltration (CVVH/CVVHDF) or PD which reported no DDS symptoms. Conclusion Early recognition and timely prevention are crucial for DDS patients. We have provided comprehensive clinical practice points for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult populations. However, it is essential to recognize that DDS was reported more frequently in the early dialysis era, as there was a lack of advanced dialysis technology and limited resources., Author(s): Rupesh Raina [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Andrew Davenport [sup.4] , Bradley Warady [sup.5] , Prabhav Vasistha [sup.1] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.6] , Ronith Chakraborty [sup.1] [sup.2] , Prajit [...]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has a significant impact on the short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of pediatric and neonatal patients, and it is imperative in these populations to mitigate the pathways leading to AKI and be prepared for early diagnosis and treatment intervention of established AKI. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has provided more advent predictive models for early detection/prediction of AKI utilizing machine learning (ML). By providing strong detail and evidence from risk scores and electronic alerts, this review outlines a comprehensive and holistic insight into the current state of AI in AKI in pediatric/neonatal patients. In the pediatric population, AI models including XGBoost, logistic regression, support vector machines, decision trees, naïve Bayes, and risk stratification scores (Renal Angina Index (RAI), Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in-time Action (NINJA)) have shown success in predicting AKI using variables like serum creatinine, urine output, and electronic health record (EHR) alerts. Similarly, in the neonatal population, using the "Baby NINJA" model showed a decrease in nephrotoxic medication exposure by 42%, the rate of AKI by 78%, and the number of days with AKI by 68%. Furthermore, the "STARZ" risk stratification AI model showed a predictive ability of AKI within 7 days of NICU admission of AUC 0.93 and AUC of 0.96 in the validation and derivation cohorts, respectively. Many studies have reported the superiority of using biomarkers to predict AKI in pediatric patients and neonates as well. Future directions include the application of AI along with biomarkers (NGAL, CysC, OPN, IL-18, B2M, etc.) in a Labelbox configuration to create a more robust and accurate model for predicting and detecting pediatric/neonatal AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Maninder Dhaliwal [sup.2] , Veena Raghunathan [sup.2] , Hritik Raaj [sup.3] , Samit Kumar Mahato [sup.3] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.3] , Marie-Agnes Dragon-Durey [sup.4] [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Shalini Goel [sup.2] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.3] , Hritik Raaj [sup.3] , Samit Kumar Mahato [sup.3] , Pranaw Kumar Jha [sup.4] , Shyam Bihari [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Abhyuday Rana [sup.2] , Shyam Bihari Bansal [sup.2] , Alka Rana [sup.3] , Dinesh Kumar Yadav [sup.2] , Kritika Soni [sup.2] , Marie-Agnès Dragon-Durey [...]

An editorial highlights the pressing need for multidisciplinary teams in caring for children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). It emphasizes the challenges faced by patients and families due to the rarity and complexity of the disease, leading to delays in accurate diagnosis and treatment. It stresses the importance of prompt and thorough diagnosis, particularly given the urgent therapeutic implications of aHUS.

Background: Diuretics are commonly used in neonatal AKI with the rationale to decrease positive fluid balance in critically sick neonates. The patterns of furosemide use vary among hospitals, which necessitates the need for a well-designed study. Methods: The TINKER (The Indian Iconic Neonatal Kidney Educational Registry) study provides a database, spanning 14 centres across India since August 2018. Admitted neonates (≤ 28 days) receiving intravenous fluids for at least 48 h were included. Neonatal KDIGO criteria were used for the AKI diagnosis. Detailed clinical and laboratory parameters were collected, including the indications of furosemide use, detailed dosing, and the duration of furosemide use (in days). Results: A total of 600 neonates with AKI were included. Furosemide was used in 8.8% of the neonates (53/600). Common indications of furosemide use were significant cardiac disease, fluid overload, oliguria, BPD, RDS, hypertension, and hyperkalemia. The odds of mortality was higher in neonates < 37 weeks gestational age with AKI who received furosemide compared to those who did not receive furosemide 3.78 [(1.60–8.94); p = 0.003; univariate analysis] and [3.30 (1.11–9.82); p = 0.03]; multivariate logistic regression]. Conclusions: In preterm neonates with AKI, mortality was independently associated with furosemide treatment. The furosemide usage rates were higher in neonates with associated co-morbidities, i.e. significant cardiac diseases or surgical interventions. Sicker babies needed more resuscitation at birth, and died early, and hence needed shorter furosemide courses. Thus, survival probability was higher in neonates treated with long furosemide courses vs. short courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Maninder Dhaliwal [sup.2] , Veena Raghunathan [sup.2] , Hritik Raaj [sup.3] , Samit Kumar Mahato [sup.3] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.3] , Marie-Agnes Dragon-Durey [sup.4] [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Shalini Goel [sup.2] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.3] , Hritik Raaj [sup.3] , Samit Kumar Mahato [sup.3] , Pranaw Jha [sup.4] , Shyam Bansal [sup.4] [...]

Wide ranges of age and weight in pediatric patients makes renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI) challenging, particularly in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), wherein children are often hemodynamically unstable. Standard hemodialysis (HD) is difficult in this group of children and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration/dialysis (CVVH/D) has been the accepted modality in the developed world. Unfortunately, due to cost constraints, CVVH/D is often not available and peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains the common mode of RRT in resource-poor facilities. Acute PD has its drawbacks, and intermittent HD (IHD) done slowly over a prolonged period has been explored as an alternative. Various modes of slow sustained IHD have been described in the literature with the recently introduced term prolonged intermittent RRT (PIRRT) serving as an umbrella terminology for all of these modes. PIRRT has been widely accepted in adults with studies showing it to be as effective as CVVH/D but with an added advantage of being more cost-effective. Pediatric data, though scanty, has been promising. In this current review, we elaborate on the practical aspects of undertaking PIRRT in children as well as summarize its current status., Author(s): Rajiv Sinha [sup.1] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.2] , Timothy Bunchman [sup.3] , Valentine Lobo [sup.4] , Rupesh Raina [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000 0004 1801 0469, grid.414710.7, Institute [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Arushi Nautiyal [sup.1] , Alka Rana [sup.2] , Rajan Duggal [sup.3] , Ashish Nandwani [sup.1] , Dinesh Yadav [sup.1] , Amit Mahapatra [sup.1] , [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Norma Maxvold [sup.2] , Timothy Bunchman [sup.2] , Pranaw Jha [sup.1] , Vijay Kher [sup.1] , Rupesh Raina [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.429252.a, 0000000417644857, [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Abhyuday Rana [sup.2] , Shyam Bihari Bansal [sup.2] , Alka Rana [sup.3] , Dinesh Kumar Yadav [sup.2] , Kritika Soni [sup.2] , Marie-Agnès Dragon-Durey [...]

The article presents answers to a clinical quiz about the case of a child with chronic kidney disease and hepatic dysfunction.

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Nikita Wadhwani [sup.1] , Pranaw Jha [sup.1] , Rajan Duggal [sup.2] , Reetesh Sharma [sup.1] , Shyam Bansal [sup.1] , Vijay Kher [sup.1] Author [...]

Author(s): Rupesh Raina [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.3] , Timothy Bunchman [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.413473.6, 0000 0000 9013 1194, Department of Nephrology, Akron Children's Hospital, , Akron, [...]

Author(s): Vivek Sharma [sup.1] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.2] , Rupesh Raina [sup.3] , Shyam Bansal [sup.2] , S. S. Baijal [sup.1] , Vijay Kher [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.429252.a, [...]

Author(s): Vivek Sharma [sup.1] , Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.2] , Rupesh Raina [sup.3] , Shyam Bansal [sup.2] , S. S. Baijal [sup.1] , Vijay Kher [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.429252.a, [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi[sup.1] , Edgar A. Otto[sup.2] , Sara Ma[sup.2] , Rajan Duggal[sup.3] , Virginia Vega-Warner[sup.2] , Vijay Kher[sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) Pediatric Nephrology, Medanta Kidney and Urology Institute, [...]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Arushi Nautiyal [sup.1] , Alka Rana [sup.2] , Rajan Duggal [sup.3] , Ashish Nandwani [sup.1] , Dinesh Yadav [sup.1] , Amit Mahapatra [sup.1] , [...]

A quiz about the case of a 19-month-old girl with chronic kidney disease and hepatic dysfunction is presented.

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Nikita Wadhwani [sup.1] , Pranaw Jha [sup.1] , Rajan Duggal [sup.2] , Reetesh Sharma [sup.1] , Shyam Bansal [sup.1] , Vijay Kher [sup.1] Author [...]

Background: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health concern with an associated mortality risk disproportionately pronounced in resource-limited settings. There is a pertinent need to understand the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in vulnerable populations. Here, we proposed a prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of “severe dialysis dependent AKI” in children among South Asian nations which would be the first and largest of its kind.The ASPIRE study (part of PCRRT-ICONIC Foundation initiative) is a multi-center, prospective observational study conducted in South Asian countries. All children and adolescents ≤ 18 years of age who required dialysis for AKI in any of the collaborating medical centers were enrolled. Data collection was performed until one of the following endpoints was observed: (1) discharge, (2) death, and (3) discharge against medical advice.From 2019 to 2022, a total of 308 children with severe AKI were enrolled. The mean age was 6.17 years (63% males). Secondary AKI was more prevalent than primary AKI (67.2%), which predominantly occurred due to infections, dehydration, and nephrotoxins. Common causes of primary AKI were glomerulonephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, lupus nephritis, and obstructive uropathy. Shock, need for ventilation, and coagulopathy were commonly seen in children with severe AKI who needed dialysis. The foremost kidney replacement therapy used was peritoneal dialysis (60.7%). The mortality rate was 32.1%.Common causes of AKI in children in South Asia are preventable. Mortality is high among these children suffering from “severe dialysis dependent AKI.” Targeted interventions to prevent and identify AKI early and initiate supportive care in less-resourced nations are needed.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.Methods: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health concern with an associated mortality risk disproportionately pronounced in resource-limited settings. There is a pertinent need to understand the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in vulnerable populations. Here, we proposed a prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of “severe dialysis dependent AKI” in children among South Asian nations which would be the first and largest of its kind.The ASPIRE study (part of PCRRT-ICONIC Foundation initiative) is a multi-center, prospective observational study conducted in South Asian countries. All children and adolescents ≤ 18 years of age who required dialysis for AKI in any of the collaborating medical centers were enrolled. Data collection was performed until one of the following endpoints was observed: (1) discharge, (2) death, and (3) discharge against medical advice.From 2019 to 2022, a total of 308 children with severe AKI were enrolled. The mean age was 6.17 years (63% males). Secondary AKI was more prevalent than primary AKI (67.2%), which predominantly occurred due to infections, dehydration, and nephrotoxins. Common causes of primary AKI were glomerulonephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, lupus nephritis, and obstructive uropathy. Shock, need for ventilation, and coagulopathy were commonly seen in children with severe AKI who needed dialysis. The foremost kidney replacement therapy used was peritoneal dialysis (60.7%). The mortality rate was 32.1%.Common causes of AKI in children in South Asia are preventable. Mortality is high among these children suffering from “severe dialysis dependent AKI.” Targeted interventions to prevent and identify AKI early and initiate supportive care in less-resourced nations are needed.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.Results: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health concern with an associated mortality risk disproportionately pronounced in resource-limited settings. There is a pertinent need to understand the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in vulnerable populations. Here, we proposed a prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of “severe dialysis dependent AKI” in children among South Asian nations which would be the first and largest of its kind.The ASPIRE study (part of PCRRT-ICONIC Foundation initiative) is a multi-center, prospective observational study conducted in South Asian countries. All children and adolescents ≤ 18 years of age who required dialysis for AKI in any of the collaborating medical centers were enrolled. Data collection was performed until one of the following endpoints was observed: (1) discharge, (2) death, and (3) discharge against medical advice.From 2019 to 2022, a total of 308 children with severe AKI were enrolled. The mean age was 6.17 years (63% males). Secondary AKI was more prevalent than primary AKI (67.2%), which predominantly occurred due to infections, dehydration, and nephrotoxins. Common causes of primary AKI were glomerulonephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, lupus nephritis, and obstructive uropathy. Shock, need for ventilation, and coagulopathy were commonly seen in children with severe AKI who needed dialysis. The foremost kidney replacement therapy used was peritoneal dialysis (60.7%). The mortality rate was 32.1%.Common causes of AKI in children in South Asia are preventable. Mortality is high among these children suffering from “severe dialysis dependent AKI.” Targeted interventions to prevent and identify AKI early and initiate supportive care in less-resourced nations are needed.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.Conclusions: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health concern with an associated mortality risk disproportionately pronounced in resource-limited settings. There is a pertinent need to understand the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in vulnerable populations. Here, we proposed a prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of “severe dialysis dependent AKI” in children among South Asian nations which would be the first and largest of its kind.The ASPIRE study (part of PCRRT-ICONIC Foundation initiative) is a multi-center, prospective observational study conducted in South Asian countries. All children and adolescents ≤ 18 years of age who required dialysis for AKI in any of the collaborating medical centers were enrolled. Data collection was performed until one of the following endpoints was observed: (1) discharge, (2) death, and (3) discharge against medical advice.From 2019 to 2022, a total of 308 children with severe AKI were enrolled. The mean age was 6.17 years (63% males). Secondary AKI was more prevalent than primary AKI (67.2%), which predominantly occurred due to infections, dehydration, and nephrotoxins. Common causes of primary AKI were glomerulonephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, lupus nephritis, and obstructive uropathy. Shock, need for ventilation, and coagulopathy were commonly seen in children with severe AKI who needed dialysis. The foremost kidney replacement therapy used was peritoneal dialysis (60.7%). The mortality rate was 32.1%.Common causes of AKI in children in South Asia are preventable. Mortality is high among these children suffering from “severe dialysis dependent AKI.” Targeted interventions to prevent and identify AKI early and initiate supportive care in less-resourced nations are needed.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.Graphical abstract: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health concern with an associated mortality risk disproportionately pronounced in resource-limited settings. There is a pertinent need to understand the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in vulnerable populations. Here, we proposed a prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and associated risk factors of “severe dialysis dependent AKI” in children among South Asian nations which would be the first and largest of its kind.The ASPIRE study (part of PCRRT-ICONIC Foundation initiative) is a multi-center, prospective observational study conducted in South Asian countries. All children and adolescents ≤ 18 years of age who required dialysis for AKI in any of the collaborating medical centers were enrolled. Data collection was performed until one of the following endpoints was observed: (1) discharge, (2) death, and (3) discharge against medical advice.From 2019 to 2022, a total of 308 children with severe AKI were enrolled. The mean age was 6.17 years (63% males). Secondary AKI was more prevalent than primary AKI (67.2%), which predominantly occurred due to infections, dehydration, and nephrotoxins. Common causes of primary AKI were glomerulonephritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, lupus nephritis, and obstructive uropathy. Shock, need for ventilation, and coagulopathy were commonly seen in children with severe AKI who needed dialysis. The foremost kidney replacement therapy used was peritoneal dialysis (60.7%). The mortality rate was 32.1%.Common causes of AKI in children in South Asia are preventable. Mortality is high among these children suffering from “severe dialysis dependent AKI.” Targeted interventions to prevent and identify AKI early and initiate supportive care in less-resourced nations are needed.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi[sup.1] , Edgar A. Otto[sup.2] , Sara Ma[sup.2] , Rajan Duggal[sup.3] , Virginia Vega-Warner[sup.2] , Vijay Kher[sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) Pediatric Nephrology, Medanta Kidney and Urology Institute, [...]

A correction to the article "A child with chronic kidney disease and hepatic dysfunction: Answers," published online on July 5, 2023 is presented.

A correction to the article "A child with chronic kidney disease and hepatic dysfunction: Questions," published online on July 5, 2023 is presented.