Outcomes of combined cardiac surgery and kidney transplant compared with kidney transplant after cardiac surgery.

Context: Patients with chronic renal failure have a high prevalence of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular death. The mortality and the morbidity rates of cardiac surgery are particularly high in these patients with end-stage renal disease. Performing cardiac surgery and kidney transplant in the same session can reduce these complications in the early postoperative period by normalizing renal function.
Objective: To compare the mortality and morbidity rates between patients who had undergone cardiac surgery and kidney transplant separately and patients who had combined surgeries.
Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 75 patients. One group of 60 patients underwent cardiac surgery and kidney transplant in separate sessions, and the other group of 15 patients had combined surgeries in the same session, between March 2008 and September 2012.
Results: Patients who had combined surgeries achieved fluid electrolytic balance more easily, had shorter extubation times, used less blood and blood products, and had fewer major complications. The patients recovered faster and thus had shorter stays in the intensive care unit and hospital. This combined surgical approach allows normalized kidney function in patients with end-stage renal disease, so mortality and morbidity in the early postoperative period could be significantly reduced.