Analysis of intraoperative modifiable factors to prevent acute kidney injury after elective noncardiac surgery: intraoperative hypotension and crystalloid administration related to acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND: The optimal intraoperative blood pressure range and crystalloid administration protocol for the prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) after elective noncardiac surgery remain unknown. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 6296 patients aged ≥ 50 years who had undergone elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia. We evaluated the relationship between duration of intraoperative hypotension and AKI. To assess whether the effects of crystalloid administration differed according to baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we examined the interaction between intraoperative crystalloid administration and eGFR. We calculated univariable and multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the prevalence of AKI. RESULTS: AKI occurred in 431 (6.8%) patients and was associated with intraoperative hypotension. Effects of intraoperative crystalloid administration differed significantly according to baseline eGFR. Increased risk of AKI was noted in patients with eGFR ≤45 ml min(−1) 1.73m(−2) who were managed with restrictive or liberal crystalloid administration [OR 4.79 (95% CI 3.10 to 7.32) and 6.43 (95% CI 2.23 to 16.03), respectively] as opposed to those with eGFR >45 ml min(−1) 1.73m(−2) who were managed with moderately restrictive crystalloid administration. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that anesthesiologists should avoid intraoperative hypotension as well as either restrictive or liberal (as opposed to moderately restrictive) crystalloid administration in patients with decreased eGFR. Intraoperative blood pressure and crystalloid administration protocol are major modifiable factors that must be optimized to prevent postoperative AKI. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40981-021-00429-9.