Incidence and Perioperative Risk Factors of Acute Kidney Injury Among Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant burden in an early postoperative period after lung transplantation (LT). The development of severe AKI, including a need for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), is associated with increased mortality among lung transplant recipients. Evaluation of AKI incidence and predictive factors related to the development of severe AKI and with the use of CRRT in the early postoperative period after LT.

Methods: Retrospective study of 73 consecutive patients after LT operated between 2015 and 2018 in our center. We noted the stage of AKI according to KDIGO guidelines in the 7 postoperative days.

Results: We noted AKI among 62 lung transplant recipients (84.9%). We recognized the first and second stages of AKI in 21 patients (28.8%) and 19 patients 26%, respectively (group A). We identified severe AKI (group C) in 22 recipients (30.1%), 9 of whom needed CRRT postoperatively. There was a nonsignificant difference between groups in baseline serum creatinine (0.69 ± 0.22 mg/dL vs 0.84 ± 0.34; P = .073). Group C subjects statistically more often suffered from pulmonary hypertension (P < .001) and diabetes (P < .001). In both groups, the duration of the procedure was comparable, but, among patients with severe AKI, procedures were performed more often with the use of extracorporeal circulation (50% vs 68%; P = .194) CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary hypertension and diabetes could be significant risk factors of high-grade AKI development after LT. Identification of factors modifying renal insufficiency development in lung transplant recipients needs further investigations.