Peri-operative renal protection: The strategies revisited

Early acute kidney injury after liver transplantation in patients with normal preoperative renal function

AIM

Acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly occurs in patients after liver transplantation (LT). However, few studies have focused on AKI and its correlation with clinical outcomes under the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. This study aimed to identity the incidence, risk factors, and impacts of early AKI on outcomes in LT recipients with normal preoperative renal function, according to the KDIGO criteria.

METHODS

Clinical and laboratory data of 227 patients with normal preoperative renal function who underwent LT from January 2011 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

During the first week after LT, 106 patients (46.7%) developed AKI based on the KDIGO criteria. A multivariate analysis revealed that BMI of > 25, prolonged inferior vena cava clamping, prolonged cold ischemia time, and post-operative RBC requirements > 10 units were independent risk factors for AKI after LT. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the predictive ability of AKI under these risk factors was 0.748. The occurrence of AKI was associated with longer mechanical ventilation time and post-operative ICU stay, increased post-operative 30-day mortality and decreased long-term patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in patients with normal preoperative renal function, AKI was a frequent complication in LT recipients and had both negative short- or long-term effects on patient outcomes, also the severity of AKI had a dose-response relationship with worse outcomes. Patients with BMI > 25, prolonged inferior vena cava clamping, prolonged cold ischemia time, or post-operative RBC requirement > 10 units should be pay particular attention, which may assist in achieving better clinical outcomes.

Endocrinopathies: The current and changing perspectives in anesthesia practice

The gateways to advancements in medical fields have always been accessed through the coalition between various specialties. It is almost impossible for any specialty to make rapid strides of its own. However, the understanding of deeper perspectives of each specialty or super specialty is essential to take initiatives for the progress of the other specialty. Endocrinology and anesthesiology are two such examples which have made rapid progress in the last three decades. Somehow the interaction and relationship among these medical streams have been only scarcely studied. Diabetes and thyroid pathophysiologies have been the most researched endocrine disorders so far in anesthesia practice but even their management strategies have undergone significant metamorphosis over the last three decades. As such, anesthesia practice has been influenced vastly by these advancements in endocrinology. However, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between these two partially related specialties is considered to be an essential cornerstone for further progress in anesthesia and surgical sciences. The current review is an attempt to imbibe the current and the changing perspectives so as to make the understanding of the relationship between these two medical streams a little simple and clearer.

Adenovirus-Mediated Over-Expression of Nrf2 Within Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Protected Rats Against Acute Kidney Injury

PURPOSE

Recent developments in the field of cell therapy have led to a renewed interest in treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the early death of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in stressful microenvironment of a recipient tissue is a major problem with this kind of treatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether overexpression of a cytoprotective factor, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), in MSCs could protect rats against AKI.

METHODS

The Nrf2 was overexpressed in MSCs by recombinant adenoviruses, and the MSCs were implanted to rats suffering from cisplatin-induced AKI.

RESULTS

The obtained results showed that transplantation with the engineered MSCs ameliorates cisplatin-induced AKI. Morphologic features of the investigated kidneys showed that transplantation with the MSCs in which Nrf2 had been overexpressed significantly improved the complications of AKI.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that the engineered MSCs might be a good candidate to be further evaluated in clinical trials. However, detailed studies must be performed to investigate the possible carcinogenic effect of Nrf2 overexpression.

Pregnancy with co-morbidities: Anesthetic aspects during operative intervention

The presence of co-morbidities during pregnancy can pose numerous challenges to the attending anesthesiologists during operative deliveries or during the provision of labor analgesia services. The presence of cardiac diseases, endocrinological disorders, respiratory diseases, renal pathologies, hepatic dysfunction, anemia, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, connective tissue diseases and many others not only influence the obstetric outcome, but can significantly impact the anesthetic technique. The choice of anesthesia during the pregnancy depends upon the type of surgery, the period of gestation, the site of surgery, general condition of patient and so on. Whatever, the anesthetic technique is chosen the methodology should be based on evidentially supported literature and the clinical judgment of the attending anesthesiologist. The list of co-morbid diseases is unending. However, the present review describes the common co-morbidities encountered during pregnancy and their anesthetic management during operative deliveries.

Clinical conundrums and challenges during geriatric orthopedic emergency surgeries

Despite so many advancements and innovations in anesthetic techniques, expectations and challenges have also grown in plenty. Cardiac, pediatric, obstetric and neuro-anesthesia have perfectly developed to fulfill the desired needs of respective patient population. However, geriatric anesthesia has been shown a lesser interest in teaching and clinical practices over the years as compared with other anesthetic sub-specialties. The large growing geriatric population globally is also associated with an increase number of elderly patients presenting for orthopedic emergency surgeries. Orthopedic emergency surgery in geriatric population is not only a daunting clinical challenge but also has numerous socio-behavioral and economic ramifications. Decision making in anesthesia is largely influenced by the presence of co-morbidities, neuro-cognitive functions and the current socio-behavioral status. Pre-anesthetic evaluation and optimization are extremely important for a better surgical outcome but is limited by time constraints during emergency surgery. The current review aims to highlight comprehensively the various clinical, social, behavioral and psychological aspects during pre-anesthetic evaluation associated with emergency orthopedic surgery in geriatric population.

Acute kidney injury following orthotopic liver transplantation: incidence, risk factors, and effects on patient and graft outcomes

BACKGROUND

Liver transplant recipients frequently develop acute kidney injury (AKI), but the predisposing factors and long-term consequences of AKI are not well understood. The aims of this study were to identify predisposing factors for early post-transplant AKI and the impact of AKI on patient and graft survival and to construct a model to predict AKI using clinical variables.

METHODS

In this 5-year retrospective study, we analysed clinical and laboratory data from 424 liver transplant recipients from our centre.

RESULTS

By 72 h post-transplant, 221 patients (52%) had developed AKI [according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria]. Predisposing factors for development of AKI were female sex, weight (>100 kg), severity of liver disease (Child-Pugh score), pre-existing diabetes mellitus, number of units of blood or fresh frozen plasma transfused during surgery, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis as the aetiology of end-stage liver disease (P≤0.05). Notably, preoperative serum creatinine (SCr) was not a significant predisposing factor. After fitting a forward stepwise regression model, female sex, weight >100 kg, high Child-Pugh score, and diabetes remained significantly associated with the development of AKI within 72 h (P≤0.05). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the final model was 0.71. The incidence of new chronic kidney disease and requirement for dialysis at 3 months and 1 yr post-transplant were significantly higher among patients who developed AKI.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of AKI within the first 72 h after transplant impacted short-term and long-term graft survival.

Management of diabetes in the elderly with canagliflozin: A newer hypoglycemic drug on the horizon

Canagliflozin is the first available oral inhibitor of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in the market. At the outset it sounds excellent for the use in the elderly diabetic population, because of its minimal tendency to cause hypoglycemia. However, the clinician needs to exercise caution as it needs to be dosed renally. The clinician needs to be circumspect about potential drug interactions, especially when there is an underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). Also its use is best avoided in people who are predisposed to genital mycotic and urinary tract infections (UTI).

Predictors of acute kidney injury in geriatric patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery

BACKGROUND

Few studies have focused on patients' characteristics that affects acute kidney injury (AKI) after total knee replacement surgery (TKR).

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this retrospective study was to identify patients' characteristics associated with AKI after TKR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2008 and December 2009, 659 patients with a mean age of 67.1 years (range, 39-99) underwent TKA at Regional Hospital Knee and Hip Institute. Retrospective chart review was done to identify patients' characteristics that were associated with AKI after TKR. Logistic regression was used to evaluate AKI.

RESULTS

AKI occurred in 21.9% of patients. AKI risk decreased between 2008 and 2009 (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, -0.37 to 0.82) but increased with age (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (DM), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) use (OR, -1.6; 95% CI, -1.0 to 2.5; and OR, -1.5, 95% CI, -1.0 to 2.3, respectively). However, the effects of DM and ACEI/ARB use were not independent; when both were included in the regression model, neither was statistically significant, and both ORs were smaller than combined OR.

CONCLUSIONS

When examined separately, both DM and preoperative ACEI/ARB use increased the risk of AKI; however these factors were correlated and were not independent predictors of significantly increased risk. Patients with DM have higher tendency to develop AKI and hence, preoperative renal risk stratification should be done in all patients with DM.

Anesthetic management of primary hyperparathyroidism: A role rarely noticed and appreciated so far

Endocrine surgeries have been on the rise for the last few years. During surgery, endocrine disorders present unique challenges to the endocrinologist and to the attending anesthesiologist. The endocrine, electrolyte and metabolic disturbances resulting from such disorders can have a profound effect on the normal human physiological milieu. Surgery of parathyroid glands is no exception and is associated with a multiple challenges during pre-, intra-, and post-operative period. Pre-op examination and optimization is essential so as to prevent any intra-op or post-op complications. The most striking electrolyte disturbance during parathyroid surgery is the imbalance of calcium levels in the body and the main emphasis during the entire peri-operative period revolves around the maintenance of normal serum calcium levels. The present article review in depth the various anesthetic considerations and implications during parathyroid surgery with an emphasis on pre-op preparation for elective and emergency surgery.