Effect of albumin usage during cardiopulmonary bypass on postoperative acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery patients: A historical cohort study

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is a common and serious postoperative complication and is associated with an increased risk of mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, and costs. We evaluated the effect of albumin usage on postoperative AKI in patients who underwent on-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG). Methods: This non-randomized cohort study was conducted on data from adult patients who underwent elective CABG, from March of 2015 to March of 2019. We assessed two groups of patients including the albumin (who received 50cc albumin 20% in priming solution) and the non-albumin groups. We recorded demographic data, medical history, and preoperative laboratory data. We compared postoperative changes in serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) up to 72 hours after surgery with preoperative ones. Also, the stage of kidney dysfunction was assessed according to the AKIN classification. The statistical analysis of the data was processed by SPSS 24 program. Results: Overall, we reviewed 506 patients chart [260 (51.4%) in albumin and 246 (48.6%) in non-albumin group]. In both groups, serum Cr, BUN, and GFR increased in 72 hours postoperatively compared with preoperative levels. This increase was greater in the non-albumin group than in the albumin group. However, the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups (p > 0.05). None of the patients developed renal failure or required dialysis. Conclusion: We concluded that the use of albumin in prime solution did not have a statistically significant effect on postoperative renal dysfunction after CABG.