Pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy now available at Marshall Health , Hoops Family Children ’ s Hospital
Pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy ( CRRT ), a continuous form of dialysis for infants and children with acute kidney injury , is now available to patients at Hoops Family Children ’ s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital .
Pediatric nephrologists Rose M . Ayoob , MD , and Edward Nehus , MD , who joined the care teams of Marshall Health and Hoops in 2021 , are working to expand nephrology care to pediatric patients throughout the region . CRRT works by continuously circulating blood from the body through a circuit that performs the functions usually carried out by the kidneys . It is often the preferred form of dialysis in critically ill children because CRRT offers several advantages over conventional dialysis , which is typically performed in three to four-hour daily intervals .
“ This life-saving dialysis device provides such a benefit to our regional hospitals that may need to transfer a child with acute kidney injury to Hoops . They can take comfort in knowing the child is receiving outstanding treatment by our experienced care team ,” said Ayoob , associate professor of pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine .
Children with acute kidney injury often develop fluid overload , which is associated with increased risk for mortality . Using CRRT , fluid overload can be prevented and treated by providing a way to continuously remove fluid .
“ Kidney injury occurs in about 25 % of critically ill children , with the severe cases requiring CRRT ,” said Nehus , an associate professor of pediatrics at the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine . “ By offering CRRT , we are now able to provide children with severe kidney injury the care they need closer to home , and CRRT is often safer and better tolerated than conventional dialysis in children who are critically ill .”
Marshall Health offers collaborative approach for deep brain stimulation surgery
For patients with movement disorders and epilepsy , deep brain stimulation ( DBS ) surgery can tremendously reduce their symptoms and significantly improve their overall quality of life . Achieving the best outcome is always the goal , which is why last fall Marshall Neuroscience implemented a collaborative approach , incorporating other members of the patient ’ s healthcare team .
“ The keystone to every major DBS center in the world is a welltrained movement disorder team ,” said Heather Pinckard-Dover , MD , assistant professor at the Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine and a Marshall Health neurosurgeon . “ When I joined Marshall Health in 2021 , I knew we needed to implement this initiative to deliver the best available patientcentered care .”
The team consists of neurologists , neurosurgeons , neuropsychologists , physical therapists , occupational therapists , speech therapists , and pharmacists . They meet monthly to discuss each patient ’ s case and review past implants to continually learn and optimize results . Local referring physicians are invited to participate as well .
DBS is a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes that deliver electrical impulses to specific areas in the brain . The electrodes are controlled by a device similar to a pacemaker . The devices last for three to 15 years depending on type implanted and patient use . They are replaced with a simple outpatient surgery . The overall risk of the operation is very low . DBS can be used to treat movement disorders , such as Parkinson ’ s disease , essential tremor , dystonia , and epilepsy .
Patients like Dennis Parsons typically see significant results . Parsons worked in the maintenance department at Cabell Huntington Hospital ( CHH ) for 30 years . When his symptoms from Parkinson ’ s disease became more severe , he had to retire .
After undergoing surgery , he went from not being able to get keys in the door to being able to unscrew a tiny screw in a receptacle cover in the exam room . He has less stiffness , increased movement control , and a wider range of motion . He can also walk again without using a cane .
DBS is not a new procedure for Marshall Neuroscience . The department has performed these surgeries since 2008 at CHH , a member of Mountain Health Network .
To find out more about DBS surgery , call Marshall Neuroscience , an outpatient department of CHH , at 304-691-1787 , or visit marshallhealth . org / deep-brain-stimulation .
Image : Heather Pinckard-Dover , MD .
West Virginia Medical Journal • March 2022 • 15