title: Fenoldopam to prevent acute kidney injury after major surgery-a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute kidney injury (AKI) after surgery is associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs. Fenoldopam is a selective dopamine-1 receptor agonist with renoprotective properties. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing fenoldopam with placebo to prevent AKI after major surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched EMBASE, PubMed, meta-Register of randomised controlled trials and Cochrane CENTRAL databases for trials comparing fenoldopam with placebo in patients undergoing major surgery. The primary outcome was incidence of new AKI. Secondary outcomes were requirement for renal replacement therapy and hospital mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three publications were screened; 23 studies underwent full data extraction and scoring. Six trials were suitable for inclusion in the data synthesis (total of 507 subjects undergoing cardiovascular surgery, partial nephrectomy, liver transplant surgery). Five studies were rated at high risk of bias. Data on post-operative incidence of AKI were available in five of the six trials (total of 471 patients) but definitions of AKI varied between studies. Of the 238 patients receiving fenoldopam, 45 (18.9%) developed AKI compared to 62 (26.6%) of the 233 patients who received placebo (p = 0.004, I (2) = 0 %; random-effects model odds ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.27-0.79). In patients treated with fenoldopam, there was no difference in renal replacement therapy (n = 478; p = 0.11, I (2) = 47%; fixed-effect model odds ratio 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.06-1.19) or hospital mortality (p = 0.60, I (2) = 0 %; fixed-effect model odds ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 0.14-7.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this analysis, peri-operative treatment with fenoldopam was associated with a significant reduction in post-operative AKI but it had no impact on renal replacement therapy or hospital mortality. Equipoise remains for further large trials in this area since the studies were conducted in three types of surgery, the majority of studies were rated at high risk of bias and the criteria for AKI varied between trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. Michael.Gillies@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Hospital, London, UK. v.kakar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kakar
authors.affiliation: Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Hospital, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Liverpool, UK. robertparker@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of ICU, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB University), Brussels, Belgium. Patrick.Honore@uzbrussel.be.
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Honoré
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology & Critical Care Medicine, King's College London, Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation Hospital, London, UK. Marlies.Ostermann@gstt.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostermann
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018818:Fenoldopam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D018818:Fenoldopam