The value of combined hemodynamic, respiratory and intra-abdominal pressure monitoring in predicting acute kidney injury after major intraabdominal surgeries

Background: The incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is predominantly determined by renal hemodynamics. Beside arterial blood pressure, the role of factors causing a deterioration of venous congestion (intraabdominal pressure, central venous pressure, mechanical ventilation) has emerged. The value of combined hemodynamic, respiratory and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring in predicting postoperative acute kidney injury has received only limited exploration to date. Methods: Data were collected for adult patients admitted after major abdominal surgery at nine Hungarian ICUs. Hemodynamic parameters were compared in AKI vs. no-AKI patients at the time of admission and 48 h thereafter. Regarding ventilatory support, we tested mean airway pressures (Pmean). Effective renal perfusion pressure (RPP) was calculated as MAP−(IAP + CVP + Pmean). The Mann–Whitney U and the chi-square tests were carried out for statistical analysis with forward stepwise logistic regression for AKI as a dependent outcome. Results: A total of 84 patients (34 ventilated) were enrolled in our multicenter observational study. The median values of MAP were above 70 mmHg, IAP not higher than 12 mmHg and CVP not higher than 8 mmHg at all time-points. When we combined those parameters, even those belonging to the ‘normal’ range with Pmean, we found significant differences between no-AKI and AKI groups only at 12 h after ICU admission (median and IQR: 57 (42–64) vs. 40 (36–52); p < .05). Below it’s median (40.7 mmHg) on admission, AKI developed in all patients. If above 40.7 mmHg on admission, they were protected against AKI, but only if it did not decrease within the first 12 h. Conclusions: Calculated effective RPP with the novel formula MAP−(IAP + CVP + Pmean) may predict the onset of AKI in the surgical ICU with a great sensitivity and specificity. Maintaining effective RPP appears important not only at ICU admission but during the next 12 h, as well. Additional, larger studies are needed to explore therapeutic interventions targeting this parameter.