Use of Furosemide and Chlorothiazide Combination Continuous Infusion in Furosemide-Refractory Patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe the efficacy and safety of furosemide and chlorothiazide combination continuous infusion (FCCCI) in children in a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), including postoperative cardiac patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study in a pediatric ICU within a tertiary care teaching hospital. Children aged < 18 years admitted from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019 were included if they received a furosemide infusion for at least 6 h and then transitioned to FCCCI. Each patient acted as their own control.

RESULTS

A total of 203 patients (107 [53%] postoperative cardiac) met the study inclusion criteria. The study population was 55% male and 74% Caucasian, with a median age of 4.9 months. Of the total patients, 143 (70.4%) required mechanical ventilation and 39 (19.2%) required dialysis. The median duration of furosemide and FCCCI was 24.6 h (interquartile range [IQR] 12.4-54) and 41 h (IQR 15-162), respectively. Urine output increased by 52% with FCCCI (mean increase of 2.2 mL/kg/h [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.8-2.5]; p < 0.01). The change to FCCCI led to a net negative daily fluid balance (mean difference - 301.9 mL/day [95% CI - 390.9 to - 212.9]; p < 0.01). FCCCI resulted in a greater requirement for potassium bolus supplementation (mean increase of 12.8 boluses [95% CI 8.5-17.2]; p < 0.01) and a small but statistically significant increase in serum creatinine (mean difference 0.1 mg/dL [95% CI 0.06-0.14]; p < 0.01) with a resultant decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (mean difference - 13.5 [95% CI 9.7-17.4]; p < 0.01). Of the furosemide-refractory patients, 78.9% were responsive to FCCCI. Younger patients and patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery were more likely to be responsive. Nonresponders to FCCCI had slightly higher mortality (21 vs. 6.6%, p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

FCCCI resulted in a significant improvement in diuresis with achievement of negative fluid balance in pediatric ICU patients. FCCCI is a reasonable approach to aggressive diuresis in the pediatric patient, particularly in patients with limited access. Serum potassium should be routinely monitored during such therapy.