The Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury After Lung Transplantation: A Single-Center Cohort...

The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung transplantation (LTx).

Records of patients who underwent LTx in a single center were retrospectively reviewed. The prevalence of post-transplant AKI, the use of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and the risk factors for AKI were investigated. The effects of AKI and CRRT on short-term outcomes and long-term survival were measured.

This study included 148 patients, 67 of which developed postoperative AKI. Of these, 31 patients underwent CRRT; the percentage of cases with no AKI was 6.2%, and the percentage of cases with stage 1, 2, and 3 who used CRRT was 0%, 10%, and 86.2%, respectively. Patients with AKI had significantly higher intensive care unit mortality and in-hospital mortality. The 1-year post-LTx survival rate of patients with AKI was 47.8%, significantly lower than those without AKI (74.1%). There was no difference in 1-year survival rate of those with stage 1 and stage 2 AKI, but patients with stage 3 AKI showed the worst survival. Patients who underwent CRRT had an inferior survival outcome (9.7% vs 76.1%, P < .05). We found that higher acute physiologic assessment and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.082, P = .009) and higher intraoperative fluid balance (OR 1.001, P = .012) were independent risk factors, and female sex (OR 2.539) and pulmonary hypertension (OR 2.869) were potential risk factors for post-LTx AKI. A prediction model integration of the above factors showed a good concordance with actual risks and had a concordance index (C-index) of 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.87).

Severe AKI requiring CRRT had a negative impact on the short-term and long-term outcomes of patients.