An estimated 20% of babies suffer from kidney or multiple organ failure right from birth. For these children, as for the adults who suffer renal failure, it is necessary to implement continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). But the only existing hemodialysis machines are intended for adults. Doctors have no choice but to adapt them to the treatment of children, which can lead to complications in fluid management and delivery of treatment, especially in babies weighing less than 15 kg.
Already tested on a newborn
The team of Prof. Claudio Ronco, from the San-Bartolo hospital in Vicenza (Italy), therefore set about developing the first hemodialysis machine intended for newborns and low-weight children. . Called Carpediem (Cardio-Renal Pediatric Dialysis Emergency Machine, or emergency pediatric cardio-renal dialysis machine), this miniaturized machine only treats children under 10kg. It allows the use of smaller catheters, which reduces the risk of damaging children’s blood vessels, and allows for much more precise management of the amount of blood to be withdrawn and filtered.
So far, the device has only been tested on one newborn baby, born with severe multiple organ failures. After 20 days of dialysis with this miniature machine, the function of the baby’s organs was restored. After 50 days, the baby left the hospital healthy.
“We hope that our success will encourage the development of other medical technologies specifically for small children and babies,” said Professor Ronco.
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