Association between preoperative baseline pulse pressure and estimated pulse wave velocity and acute renal failure and mortality following colorectal surgery. A single-centre observational study

Elevated pulse wave velocity is a haemodynamic parameter considered to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular alterations, while pulse pressure is a predictor of cardiovascular complications and development of acute renal failure after both cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. Our objective was to determine whether baseline pulse pressure and estimated pulse wave velocity are associated with renal failure and 30-day mortality following colorectal surgery.

Retrospective observational study. A total of 816 adult patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were evaluated by performing multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine whether baseline pulse pressure and estimated pulse wave velocity were independently associated with complications, specifically renal failure and 30-day postoperative mortality, and whether pulse pressure and estimated pulse wave velocity thresholds correlated with outcomes.

Baseline pulse pressure was 56.00 mmHg (45.00;68.00) and estimated pulse wave velocity was 13.16 m/s (10.76;14.85). Baseline pulse pressure was not associated with acute renal failure or mortality in the univariate model. Baseline estimated pulse wave velocity was not associated with complications, acute renal failure, or mortality. An estimated pulse wave velocity of 13.78 m/s significantly predicted acute renal failure (AUC 0.654 [0.588-0.720]) and mortality (AUC 0.698 [0.600-0.796]).

Neither pulse pressure nor preoperative baseline estimated pulse wave velocity were associated with acute renal failure or postoperative mortality. The preoperative estimated pulse wave velocity threshold of 13.78 m/s predicted an increased risk of acute renal failure and postoperative mortality.