Impact of CArdiopulmonary Bypass Flow on Renal Blood Flow, Function and OXygenation

Acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as a 50 % increase in serum creatinine above baseline, is a complication commonly seen in the intensive care unit. After cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, up to 30% of the patients develop AKI and about 2-5% requires acute dialysis. AKI renders increased morbidity, mortality and costs, and the mortality rate increases with the degree of renal impairment.

The development of AKI is considered to be a multifactorial process, where renal ischemia, nephrotoxic agents and inflammatory processes all contribute. Oxygen delivery to the kidney is compromised in states of low cardiac output, severe hypotension and anemia. The renal medulla, utilizing large amounts of oxygen in the tubular sodium reabsorption mechanism, is hypoxic already under normal conditions and therefore especially susceptible to acute renal ischemia. In postoperative AKI, Redfors et al showed that renal vasoconstriction in combination with high medullary oxygen consumption deteriorates the oxygen supply-demand relationship. This supply-demand mismatch of the renal oxygenation is considered a key mechanism of medullary ischemia.

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery is associated with AKI, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Institution of CPB changes vasomotor tone and decreases renal perfusion pressure. Hemodilution during CPB could potentially improve microcirculatory flow through reduced blood viscosity, but it might also reduce the oxygen delivery to the renal medulla. The extracorporeal circulation triggers the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, contribute to hemolysis and micro embolization, all with negative renal effects.

de Somer and co-workers recently showed that during CPB, a nadir delivery of oxygen (DO2) of < 262 mL/minute/m2 is independently associated with AKI. This emphasizes the importance of oxygen delivery. Preliminary data from a recent study indicates that CPB induces a significant renal oxygen demand/supply mismatch due to a 25% fall in renal oxygen delivery (RDO2), in turn caused by a haemodilution and redistribution of RBF away from the kidneys.

CPB flow-rates varies between different centres depending mainly on empirical experience. Common flow-rates at the institution of CPB; 2,2-2,5 L/minute/m2 equals the average cardiac index in anesthetized adults with normal hematocrit. Potential benefit from low flow is less oedema, less haemolysis, less hypertension during hypothermic CPB and reduction of the bronchial blood flow that rewarms the heart and might obscure the surgeons view. Increased CPB flow is routinely used when indications of inadequate perfusion such as lactataemia, increased pCO2 or low central venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is seen. Mackay and co-workers showed that increased CPB flow significantly increased renal perfusion during normothermic CPB in pigs. Adluri et al found that higher pump flow during hypothermic CPB in man increased hepatic blood flow. However, the impact of higher than usual flow rates on renal hemodynamics and oxygenation has not been studied in man.