Symmetry™ Aortic Connector Devices and Acute Renal Injury: A Comparison of Renal Dysfunction After Three Different Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery Techniques

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Controversy exists regarding whether an off-pump technique can reduce post-CABG renal injury.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING & POPULATION

Adult patients undergoing CABG.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Renal Library, and Google Scholar were searched in May 2008 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing off-pump CABG (OPCAB) with conventional CABG (CAB) for renal outcomes. Studies involving patients on long-term renal replacement therapy (RRT) were excluded.

INTERVENTION

OPCAB.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes were overall AKI and AKI requiring RRT.

RESULTS

22 studies (6 RCTs and 16 observational studies) comprising 27,806 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled effect from both study cohorts showed a significant reduction in overall AKI (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.76; P for effect < 0.001; I(2) = 67%; P for heterogeneity < 0.001) and AKI requiring RRT (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.71; P for effect < 0.001; I(2) = 0%; P for heterogeneity = 0.5) in the OPCAB group compared with the CAB group. In RCTs, overall AKI was significantly reduced in the OPCAB group (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.54); however, no statistically significant difference was noted in AKI requiring RRT (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.06 to 1.59). In the observational cohort, both overall AKI (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.81) and AKI requiring RRT (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.73) were significantly less in the OPCAB group. RCTs were noted to be underpowered and biased toward recruiting low-risk patients. Sensitivity analysis restricted to good-quality studies showed a significant reduction in AKI.

LIMITATIONS

Lack of uniform AKI definition in the included studies, heterogeneity for overall AKI outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the current evidence suggests a reduction in AKI using the OPCAB technique; however, studies lack consistency in defining AKI. Available RCTs are underpowered to detect a difference in AKI requiring RRT; evidence from observational studies suggests a reduction in RRT requirement. Future studies should apply a standard definition of AKI and target a high-risk population.

Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease after cardiac surgery

Kidney dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery and predicts mortality risk and poorer long-term outcome, particularly when acute injury superimposes upon chronic kidney disease. Numerous insults contribute to perioperative renal impairment including major surgical trespass, procedure-specific interventions (eg, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest), and postoperative complications. Regardless of cause, evidence supports a role for renal impairment and accumulation of "uremic toxins" as direct contributors to adverse outcome. No one has yet characterized a loss of renal function small enough to be insignificant. Despite considerable research focus, progress in development of interventions aimed at perioperative renoprotection has been disappointing. However, practice modifications can influence the likelihood of acute kidney injury, and several recent advances provide hope for the future. We review pathophysiologic understanding of this disorder; evaluate the confusing relationship (causal v epiphenomena) among acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and adverse outcome after cardiac surgery; and provide an evidence-based assessment of the conduct of cardiac surgery and renoprotection strategies.