Outcomes of previously healthy pediatric patients with fulminant sepsis-induced multisystem organ failure receiving therapeutic plasma exchange.

BACKGROUND: Fulminant sepsis-induced multisystem organ failure (MSOF) in pediatric patients carries substantial morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been reported to be beneficial in sepsis-induced MSOF. We evaluated the outcomes of previously healthy children with fulminant sepsis-induced MSOF receiving TPE.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previously healthy pediatric ICU patients who underwent TPE for MSOF due to fulminant bacterial sepsis were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients (three females and eight males) with age ranging 8 months to 14 years were identified (eight meningococcemia and three other infections). All patients received daily TPE with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) as replacement fluid. Organ failure index (OFI-maximum score = 6) was assessed daily for 7 days.
RESULTS: A median of 4 TPE (1-14) were performed. Improvements in organ function and platelet count occurred in most patients with 2-4 TPE treatments. All 10 patients who were alive had reduced OFI to 2 by day 7 of initial TPE and were all fully recovered (survival rate = 10/11, 91%). The only death occurred in a patient who died the same day after his first TPE treatment, which was initiated 24 h after development of MSOF. The 10 survivors underwent early initiation of TPE (median 5.3 h) after the onset of MSOF.
CONCLUSIONS: > TPE may contribute to a better outcome in previously healthy pediatric patients with fulminant sepsis-induced MSOF, especially if instituted early in the course of multiorgan failure.