Hemoadosorption in pediatric critical care: current insights and future perspectives.

Abstract

Background: Hemoadsorption (HA) is increasingly recognized as a valuable extracorporeal blood purification technique in paediatric intensive care. Although initially developed for adult patients, HA's application in paediatric critical care, particularly for conditions such as septic shock, liver failure, and rhabdomyolysis, has gained significant attention due to promising clinical outcomes.

Summary: HA has demonstrated efficacy in managing paediatric septic shock by reducing vasopressor requirements and lowering inflammatory markers. In liver failure, HA complements continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) by removing albumin-bound toxins and cytokines, mitigating systemic inflammation. Emerging evidence also supports HA as a rescue therapy in rare paediatric conditions like rhabdomyolysis and acute intoxications, preventing organ damage and reducing morbidity. Despite its benefits, HA in paediatrics presents technical challenges, including concerns over extracorporeal circuit volumes, vascular access, and anticoagulation. Paediatric-specific devices, such as the HA60, BS80 and PMX-05R, are addressing these limitations by offering lower priming volumes suitable for small children. Recent studies have highlighted improvements in hemodynamic stability, cytokine reduction, and organ function, reinforcing HA's potential as a critical adjuvant therapy. This review underscores the evolving landscape of HA in paediatric critical care, advocating for further research to optimize its application across diverse clinical scenarios.

Key messages: • HA shows significant promise in paediatric septic shock, liver failure, and rhabdomyolysis. • Technical advancements are expanding HA's applicability to neonates and small infants. • More multicentre studies are needed to establish HA's role in reducing mortality and improving quality of life post-PICU.