Frequency of Renal Dysfunction and its effects on outcomes after open heart surgery

OBJECTIVES: In this study we determined the frequency of renal dysfunction and its outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent open heart surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 175 patients aged between 15-80 years having open heart Surgery(OHS) were included. Preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine (SCr) was noted and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation. Their hospital course was charted and followed-up for 30-day. RESULTS: The mean age and mean BMI were 58.1±12.6 years and 26.4±4.3 kg/m2 respectively. Females were 18.3%, out of which 51.4% hypertensive, 46.9% diabetics, 45.1% had dyslipidemia, 2.9% had preoperative renal dysfunction and 40% had moderate ejection fraction. On follow up, 30.3% developed postoperative renal dysfunction within 30-days after OHS with mean SCr and GFR as 1.6±0.7 and 56.9±24.5, respectively. In RD group more patients showed positive outcomes i.e. prolonged inotropic requirement (75.5% vs. 18%, p-value <0.005), diuretic infusion usage (47.2% vs. 3.3%, p-value <0.005), dialysis/renal replacement therapy (17% vs. 0%, p-value <0.005), requirement for prolonged ventilation (35.8% vs. 6.6%, p-value <0.005), prolonged ICU and hospital stay (15.4% vs. 1.6%, p-value <0.005 and 41.5% vs. 17.2%, p-value <0.005), sepsis (20.8% vs. 1.6%, p-value <0.005) and death (9.4% vs. 2.5%, p-value 0.05). CONCLUSION: Timely recognition of renal dysfunction, early renal replacement therapy, diuretics or dialysis and proper nutritional and inotropic support to maintain adequate hemostasis shows survival benefits.