A Practical Approach to Preventing Renal Complications in the Catheterization Laboratory

Kidney injury following cardiac catheterization is an infrequent, though persistent, complication, which in some cases may be preventable. Patients at increased risk for renal complications following catheterization can be identified through individual and procedural risk factors, and several risk-prediction models are readily available. The authors advocate for the development of an easily implemented and standardized protocol, readily accessible to catheterization laboratory staff, for the identification and treatment of those patients who may be at increased risk for renal complications following cardiac catheterization.