Determination of Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury In Orthotopic Cardiac Transplantation.

Background: In this study, we try to determine risk factors for acute kidney injury in orthotopic cardiac transplantation patients.

Methods: Between February 2003 and December 2022, all cardiac transplantation patients were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 102 patients enrolled in this study. Demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative cardiac catheterization parameters, preoperative and postoperative blood test results, intraoperative parameters, acute kidney injury developed or not, stage of acute kidney injury, and whether renal replacement therapy was required or not was recorded.

Results: Of the 102 patients, 68 were male. Fifty-four of these patients developed acute kidney injury, and 31 required renal replacement therapy postoperatively. The mean age of developed acute kidney injury group (AKI+) was older than non-developed acute kidney injury group (non-AKI) (P = .01). The average body surface area of the AKI+ was 1.81 ± 0.32, whereas in non-AKI it was 1.57 ± 0.35 (P = .01). More patients were ex-smokers (P = .007) and had a history of hypertension (P= .011) in the AKI+ group. Preoperative serum creatinine was 1.12 ± 0.26 mg/dL in the AKI+ group and 0.82 ± 0.13 mg/dL in the non-AKI group (P = .02). The intraoperative urine output was 491.20 ± 276.48 mL for AKI+ and 676.45 ± 478.84 mL for the non-AKI group (P = .03).

Conclusions: Acute kidney injury development after cardiac transplantation is common. In our study, high body surface area, older age, ex-smoker, hypertension, low intraoperative urine output, and high preoperative serum creatinine levels were risk factors for acute kidney injury development in cardiac transplantation patients. Mortality and morbidity after cardiac transplantation might be reduced if acute kidney injury development can be lowered.