Temporary Worsening of Kidney Function Following Aortic Reconstructive Surgery

Introduction. Little is known about the incidence of temporary kidney dysfunction following major vascular surgeries. We aimed to assess the frequency of temporary decreased kidney function following aortic surgeries. Materials and Methods. In a retrospective study, we assessed 108 hospital records of the patients who had undergone elective open abdominal surgery of aortic aneurysm. Preoperative and postoperative (days 1, 2, and 3) data on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were collected and evaluated in relation to the patients’ clinical characteristics and outcomes. A decline greater than 10% in GFR on day 1 or 2, and then, an increase of GFR to a level of maximum 10% below the baseline value on the third postoperative day was considered as temporary worsening of kidney function. Postoperative alterations of GFR not greater than 10% in relation to the baseline were considered as improved or unchanged kidney function. Two patients with persistent decrease in GFR were excluded. Results. Temporary worsening of kidney function was seen in 25 patients (23.6%). Short-term mortality rate was 44.0% in this group of patients, while it was 17.3% in those without decreased GFR (P = .006). According to the regression analysis, the only predictor of mortality was temporary worsening of kidney function, with a hazard ratio of 4.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 11.31; P = .008). Conclusions. Nearly 1 out of 4 aortic surgeries results in kidney dysfunction. Albeit temporary in most cases, it seems to be associated with a higher short-term mortality rate.