The Role of Preoperative Inflammation Markers, Renal Function, and Perfusion Stress in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery Under Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and represents a major determinant of short- and long-term adverse outcomes. The pathophysiology of postoperative AKI is multifactorial and involves hemodilution, non-pulsatile flow, ischemia-reperfusion injury, systemic inflammatory response, and alterations in renal perfusion during CPB. Despite similar surgical and anesthetic management, not all patients develop AKI, suggesting that preoperative patient-related factors and intraoperative perfusion stress play a critical role.

In recent years, easily accessible inflammatory indices derived from routine hematological and biochemical parameters, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, have been proposed as potential predictors of postoperative complications, including AKI. In addition, intraoperative parameters reflecting perfusion stress, such as cardiopulmonary bypass duration, arterial lactate levels, and acid-base disturbances, may further contribute to renal injury. However, studies evaluating these factors together in the setting of cardiac surgery with CPB are limited.

This single-center, retrospective observational cohort study will include adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory parameters, echocardiographic findings, and intraoperative CPB-related variables will be collected retrospectively from institutional medical records. Acute kidney injury will be defined and staged according to the KDIGO serum creatinine criteria within 48-72 hours after surgery. Urine output criteria will not be evaluated due to limitations inherent to retrospective data collection.

The primary objective of the study is to identify independent predictors of postoperative AKI by assessing the combined effects of preoperative renal function, inflammatory markers, and intraoperative perfusion stress parameters. Secondary objectives include evaluation of AKI severity and in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses will be used to determine the predictive value of selected parameters.

By improving understanding of the factors associated with postoperative AKI, this study aims to support better perioperative risk stratification and inform future prospective investigations in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.