Acute Renal Failure Following Cardiac Operations

The incidence and course of acute renal failure (ARF) following open heart surgery was retrospectively analyzed. Nine cases of severe ARF were identified in a total of 730 patients who underwent cardiac operations. Hemodialysis was initiated in all patients, and the mortality rate was 55%. Although hemodialysis was instituted at an early stage in severe ARF, the mortality rate was high. Deaths were caused by sepsis, heart failure, multiorgan failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Moderate ARF was found in 65 patients. This incidence of 8.9% is lower than previously reported. This was attributed to pulsalite perfusion during operation. Early postoperative hypotension, low haematocrit value during cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), longer CPB duration and aortic cross-clamping time increase the incidence of severe ARF in the postoperative course.