Abstract: Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different doses of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) on outcome of critically ill children. Methods The clinical data of critically ill children treated with CVVH in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Guangdong General Hospital between Jan. 2010 and Dec. 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups based on the prescribed effluent volume: lower dose group (prescribed effluent volume ≤35 ml/kg/h) and higher dose group (prescribed effluent volume ＞35ml/kg/h). The in-hospital outcomes including 30 days in-hospital mortality, lengths of stay in hospital and in ICU were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 39 critically ill children were enrolled in this study. The 28 days in-hospital mortality was 43.6%, and the median lengths of stay in hospital and in ICU were 16 (10,24) and 19 (12,30) days respectively. There were no significant differences in 30 days in-hospital mortality (38.5% vs. 46.2%, 0.265, P=0.607), lengths of stay in hospital [15 (13,21) vs. 17 (9,24), Z=-0.239, P=0.811] and in ICU [13 (6,21) vs. 12 (6,17), Z=-0.448, P= 0.654] between the two groups. Multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards regression found that the higher dose group was not associated with the lower risk of in-hospital death (HR=0.768; 95% CI 0.261～2.264, P=0.632). Conclusions Effluent volume ＞35ml/kg/h was not related to the better outcome in hospital. Therefore, the CVVH dose for critically ill children can follow the guideline for adults that recommends the practical effluent volume of 20～25 ml/(kg•h) or prescribed effluent volume of 30～35ml/(kg•h).

Key words: Mortality, Dose, Renal Replacement therapy, Continuous venous- venous hemofiltration, Critically ill children