Continuous renal replacement therapy after cardiac surgery in patients with acute renal failure

Acute renal failure is an important adverse effect of cardiopulmonary bypass that can result in high mortality or morbidity rates. It can be treated with continuous renal replacement therapy after cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the mortality and incidence of acute renal failure in patients of post cardiac surgery.

Patients (1564) who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2007 and January 2012 and treated with continuous renal replacement therapy were included (N=40). Patients with previous renal disorders were excluded. A retrospective analysis was carried out.

Overall, continuous renal replacement therapy was used in 40 (2.6%) patients. The mean age was 62.7 ± 11 years. Mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was 166 ± 80 min, and aorta cross-clamping time was 97 ± 35 min. The patients' mean pretherapy creatinine level and mean creatinine level before hospital discharge were 3.3 ± 1.1 mg/dL and 1.1 ± 0.4 mg/dl, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 35%. Only 6 patients required long-term renal replacement therapy. Conclusion Acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis after cardiac surgery is associated with higher mortality and morbidity and prolonged hospital stay. Early renal recovery with continuous renal replacement therapy seems to offer an evident survival benefit. CONTINUOUS: renal replacement therapy may represent an important therapy and reduce mortality rates. We believe that these rates might decrease even more with detailed preoperative evaluation and meticulous postoperative care with collaborative management.