The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on serum creatinine in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) may develop during partial nephrectomy due to ischemic reperfusion injury induced by renal artery clamping or surgical insult. The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on reducing the renal injury after partial nephrectomy has not been evaluated in terms of urinary biomarkers. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial enrolling the patients who will undergo partial nephrectomy. In the study group, RIPC which consisted of four 5-min cycles of limb ischemia and reperfusion will be conducted after induction of anesthesia. Postoperative serum creatinine values, the incidence of AKI, and urinary biomarkers, including urinary creatinine, microalbumin, β-2 microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, will be compared between groups during the postoperative 2 weeks. Regional oxygen saturation on the skin of the contralateral kidney will be measured to evaluate the association between intraoperative regional oxygen saturation values and renal injury of the operating side. DISCUSSION: We expect that our trial may demonstrate the effect of RIPC on mitigating the immediate postoperative renal injury and improving patient outcomes after partial nephrectomy. Moreover, our patients will undergo (99m)Tc-DTPA radionuclide scintigraphy to calculate glomerular filtration rate 6 and 12 months after surgery. This data should show the long-term effect of RIPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03273751. Registered on 6 September 2017. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2820-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.