Preoperative comorbidities in patients with acute renal failure in cardiac surgery intensive care

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious complication in the postoperative of open cardiac surgery. It can presented due to several causes including preoperative co morbidities and can affect the postoperative outcome of the patient and the severity of the renal dysfunction. Methods: We performed a descriptive, prospective study in the postoperative intensive care unit at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital and Cardiology Institute from January 2009 up to December 2010 to know the incidence of ARF, distribution by sex, age, the dialysis requirement, different postoperative complications related to the renal failure and the degree of affectation. The data collected was processed with statistical distribution analysis for frequency and non parametric test was carrying out to determinate the significant relationship between the variables. Results: From a total of 864 patients operated the 13% developed ARF and were included in this study. Male patients old that 40 years old had a higher incidence of renal dysfunction. The 58.3% developed a non oliguric ARF meanwhile in the 41.7% were oliguric. Only 2.08% required dialysis and we did not find a direct relationship between preoperative comorbities and the severity of the ARF. Conclusions: The incidence of ARF in the postoperative cardiac surgery period was 13%, with higher incidence in men and in older than 40 years, predominantly nonoliguric ARF (58.3%). Hemodialysis was necessary in 2.08%. No association was established between comorbidities and preoperative severity of ARF.