Acute renal failure and outcome of children with solitary kidney undergoing cardiac surgery

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of acute renal failure (ARF), the need for renal replacement therapy, and the outcome of children with a solitary functioning kidney undergoing open heart surgery. The study was performed retrospectively on all children diagnosed with solitary functioning kidney and who required open heart surgery between January 2003 and January 2007. Demographic, perioperative renal function and intensive care course data were documented. Eight patients (six females) fulfilled the study criteria and were included in the study. Their median age and weight were 4.5 months and 3.6 kg, respectively. Their mean +/- standard deviation (SD) preoperative blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were 3.7 +/- 1.6 mmol/L and 55 +/- 10 mu mol/L, respectively. Postoperatively, the mean BUN and creatinine levels peaked on the first postoperative day to reach 7.8 +/- 2.6 mmol/L and 76 +/- 22 mu mol/L, respectively, before starting to return to their preoperative values. Two out of eight patients (25%) developed ARF after surgery, but only one of them (12.5%) required renal replacement therapy. Open heart surgery on bypass can be performed safely for children with solitary functioning kidney with a good outcome. ARF requiring renal replacement therapy might occur temporarily after bypass surgery in a minority of cases.