Renoprotection strategies in Anesthesiology and Critical Care

Abstract

In the perioperative setting, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication. By itself, the presence of AKI is associated with adverse outcomes, such as increased risk of chronic kidney disease and mortality. Several risk factors are associated with the appearance of perioperative AKI and identifying them is crucial to initiate renal protective measures. Some renoprotective strategies have been shown to be helpful, others are still under investigation, and others are no longer recommended because they are ineffective or even harmful. The lack of efficacy of these therapies could be due to the fact that the therapy was started too late. The new renal biomarkers allow the identification of kidney damage without loss of function, thus allowing the implementation of preventive measures. The purpose of this review is to present an updated summary of the current evidence about the risk factors and mechanisms that lead to the appearance of AKI in the perioperative and the intensive care unit, as well as the different renoprotective strategies and treatments.