A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Supplemental Nitric Oxide During Cardiopulmonary Bypass to Reduce Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery

Screening: All patients undergoing either elective or emergency cardiac surgery will be screened against the eligibility criteria.

Research Sample Collection: Blood and urine will be collected for the first 48 hours admission and analyzed. The specific time points for these parameters will be: 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours 24 hours, and 48 hours post admission. Blood and urine parameters will also be collected as a baseline pre-operative. Patient outcomes will be captured for 30 days post operatively.

Research Data Collection: Baseline information will be collected. Other research related variables collected during the surgical intervention and bypass. Additional information will be collected 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after admission as well as outcomes 30 days after the procedure.

Participants will be randomly allocated to the NO or control group in a 1:1 ratio.

This study is investigating a possible protective role for NO gas administration during bypass on the subsequent development of AKI. NO is typically delivered via large, stand-alone cylinders that are placed at the bedside (or adjacent to the patient) and is set up by respiratory therapists. In this research study, the study gas (NO or placebo) will be delivered directly into the bypass circuit at a constant gas flow. The placebo gas in this study will be 21% (or atmospheric) oxygen, and will appear to all members of the clinical and research teams (with the exception of the respiratory therapist responsible for setting it up) indistinguishable from NO, rendering this a double-blind study for the patient (or caregiver) and the investigators. This minimizes any possibility of bias in the study.