Pediatric Dialysis

The type of dysfunction affecting these patients involves the kidneys, which are the organs serving to cleanse the body.

In fact, it is estimated that about 1,500 liters of blood circulate through these organs every day.

In order to produce urine, the kidneys filter about a liter and a half of water out of 1,500 liters of blood, which is used to dissolve the waste to be eliminated. Urine is the means through which the body gets rid of poisons and acids.

When a disease begins to destroy the kidneys, the body slowly accumulates various substances that are damaging to the system itself. The most dangerous among these is potassium, because when it reaches certain levels it can trigger arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.

The Dialysis Center at Bambino Gesù Hospital performs hemodialysis treatments for acute and chronic cases and follows children treated through peritoneal dialysis.

 
The Dialysis Center is able provide urgent and highly specialized dialysis treatment and forms of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), which are applied 24 hours a day. These methods are also used for children with serious cardiovascular issues, such as children who undergo major cardiac surgery, septic patients, and those affected by neonatal hyperammonemia.

 
Every year, about 2,000 dialysis sessions are performed on chronic patients and treatment is provided for 10-15 children receiving peritoneal dialysis, most of whom come in from other regions.

Why are defibrillators so important?

Patients affected by kidney disorders are susceptible to hypertension, which further increases the risk of cardiac arrest. In addition, dialysis in and of itself may cause a lower cardiovascular tolerance and expose the child to the risk of serious cardiac disorders. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death if not treated within the first few minutes, and having a defibrillator on hand is what may make all the difference in the world.

A defibrillator is a device that makes it possible to treat the most frequent cause of cardiac arrest - ventricular fibrillation - by delivering an electric shock to the heart when necessary.

Defibrillation carried out within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest saves a life nine times out of ten. This device is absolutely fundamental and the Dialysis Center simply cannot go without it.

How has the Foundation contributed?

The Ginevra Caltagirone Foundation is pleased to have been able to contribute to this cause by purchasing a life-saving piece of equipment - the Philips M4735A HEARTSTREAM XL - to donate to the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome. This particular model was chosen based on a careful study conducted by the Biomedical Engineering Service as being the most suitable to meet the hospital's needs, in compliance with European Council Directive 93/42/EEC concerning medical devices (which includes general design and manufacturing criteria applied to certain categories of medical devices).