Cold visceral perfusion improves early survival in patients with acute renal failure after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
BACKGROUND
Despite advances in organ protection during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair, acute renal failure (ARF) remains a significant clinical problem, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We studied outcome of ARF after TAAA repair in patients who underwent either warm or cold visceral perfusion.


METHODS
Between 1991 and 2001 657 TAAA repairs were performed, of which 359 (55%) had either warm or cold visceral perfusion. Twelve patients with renal failure who had undergone preoperative dialysis were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 347 patients, ARF developed in 81 (23%) after TAAA repair. Forty-four (54%) of the 81 patients with ARF received cold visceral perfusion, and 37 (46%) patients received warm visceral perfusion. ARF was defined as either an increase of 1 mg/dL in serum creatinine (SCr) concentration per day for 2 consecutive days or dialysis requirement. Patient records were reviewed through hospital discharge.


RESULTS
Twenty six (32%) of the 81 patients in whom ARF developed died, 17 of 37 (46%) patients in the warm perfusion group versus 9 of 44 (21%) patients in the cold perfusion group (P <.02). Median onset of ARF was on postoperative day 1 in both groups. Twenty-six of 81 (32%) patients recovered renal function, 10 of 37 (27%) patients in the warm perfusion group versus 16 of 44 (36%) patients in the cold perfusion group. Preoperative SCr concentration was predictive of recovery of renal function (odds ratio, 4.5 per mg/dL increase; P <.03) in patients who received either warm or cold visceral perfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
ARF after TAAA repair remains a significant clinical problem. Recovery of renal function occurred in approximately one third of patients. Preoperative SCr concentration was the only significant determinant of recovered renal function. While cold visceral perfusion did not alter renal recovery, it significantly reduced hospital mortality.
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Susrgery, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Heitham T
HT
Hassoun
Charles C
CC
Miller
Tam T T
TT
Huynh
Anthony L
AL
Estrera
Jesse J
JJ
Smith
Hazim J
HJ
Safi
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003404:Creatinine