Retrospective investigation of acute kidney injury in postoperative patients in ICU

Aims: The development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the postoperative period is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aims to determine the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and the factors affecting the development of AKI in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to evaluate the outcomes of the patients. Methods: Postoperative patients hospitalized in the ICU between December 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and 192 patients were included in the study. Kidney disease: patients with and without AKI were identified using the improving global outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Results: While 150 of the patients did not develop AKI (non-AKI group), 42 of them developed acute kidney injury (AKI group). The patients were operated on mostly by the orthopedics clinic (58.9%) and operated on at least by the urology clinic (2.1%) were taken to the intensive care unit. 39.6% of the patients underwent emergency surgery, and 60.4% underwent elective surgery. 57.1% of the AKI group and 34.7% of the non-AKI group had emergency surgery (p=0.008). Conclusion: In our study, age, timing of surgery, use of diuretics, and use of vasopressors were found to be associated with the development of postoperative AKI. In addition, comorbid diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease have also been found to be associated with AKI. Mortality, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and need for mechanical ventilation (MV) were also higher in our postoperative intensive care patients who developed AKI than in patients who did not develop AKI.