Indications, safety, and outcomes of therapeutic plasma exchange in critically ill children admitted to a multidisciplinary tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can be technically challenging in critically ill children in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This study was done to characterize the indications, technical aspects, safety, and outcomes of TPE in critically ill children admitted to PICU. Subjects and Methods: This was a retrospective study by analyzing the electronic medical records of 33 critically ill children (1 month–18 years of age) who underwent TPE in PICU. Results: A total of 33 patients underwent 122 TPE sessions. The most common diagnosis for TPE was acute liver failure (48.48%). Invasive mechanical ventilator (MV) and renal replacement therapy (RRT-continuous RRT [CRRT]/intermittent hemodialysis) were needed in 72.7%. Vasoactive support was needed in 63.6%, of whom 76% needed ≥2 vasoactive medications. Organ dysfunction of ≥3 organs was seen in 66.6%. One patient was also on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Survival to intensive care unit discharge was 59.3%. Mortality was highest for liver failure (9/16: 56%), followed by sepsis with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (40%). TPE without needing dialysis had a survival rate of 75%, while TPE with CRRT had a survival rate of 45%. Survival with ≥3 organ dysfunction was 36.3%. Factors associated with increased mortality were MV (P = 0.0115), need for vasoactive medications (P = 0.0002), organ dysfunction (P = 0.005), and specific indications (P = 0.0458). Complications were noted in 2.4%. Conclusions: TPE can be performed safely in critically ill children in combination with RRT and ECMO. The need for MV, multiple vasoactive medications, liver failure, sepsis, and higher number of organ failures were significantly associated with mortality.