Exchange transfusion in severe infant salicylism.

We used exchange transfusion as an alternative to hemodialysis in an infant with severe salicylism. A 4-mo old, 5 kg male was presented to a local hospital with acute vomiting, tachypnea, hyperpnea and intermittent agitation and lethargy. Shortly after a generalized tonic-clonic seizure he passed several tablets in his stool. Salicylate (ASA) level was 85 mg/dL. He was transferred to our institution for further management: i.v. fluids, activated charcoal, whole bowel irrigation and supplementation with sodium bicarbonate, potassium and calcium. The patient's mental status and gas exchange deteriorated and he was intubated. Despite large amounts of sodium bicarbonate and potassium, severe hypokalemia, anion gap metabolic acidosis and aciduria persisted for 10 h. The small size of the infant precluded use of hemodialysis. An exchange transfusion using 180 mL/kg packed red blood cells reconstituted in fresh frozen plasma was performed. The pre-exchange transfusion ASA level was 70.1 mg/dL; the post-exchange transfusion ASA level was 34.4 mg/dL. There was rebound elevation of ASA to 35.2 mg/dL at 6 h post-exchange transfusion. The 18, 36 and 48 h post-exchange transfusion ASA levels were 20.2, 6.8 and < 2 mg/dL respectively. The ASA level dropped 17.6% before, 41.9% in 8.5 h during, and 40.5% by 48 h after the exchange transfusion. There were no complications. The patient recovered completely to his pre-morbid state. Double volume exchange transfusion was used safely as an effective alternative to hemodialysis in this case of severe infant salicylate poisoning.