Long-Term Follow-Up Evaluation of Renal Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cardiac surgery but its long-term consequences, in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), are not known. Methods. We compared the long-term prognoses of CKD patients who developed (n=23) and did not develop (n=35) AKI during the period of hospitalization after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Fifty-eight patients who survived (69.6±8.4 years old, 72% males, 83% Whites, 52% diabetics, baseline GFR: 46±16 mL/min) were followed up for 47.8±16.4 months and treated for secondary prevention of events. Results. There were 6 deaths, 4 in the AKI+ and 2 in the AKI− group (Log-rank = 0.218), two attributed to CV causes. At the end of the study, renal function was similar in the two groups. One AKI− patient was started on dialysis. Only 4 patients had an increase in serum creatinine ≥ 0.5 mg/dL during follow-up. Conclusion. CKD patients developing AKI that survived the early perioperative period of coronary intervention present good renal and nonrenal long-term prognosis, compared to patients who did not develop AKI.