ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO029

Health Care Provider Awareness of AKI in Patients with Advanced CKD Undergoing Surgery: A Descriptive Study of Preoperative Notes

Session Information

Category: Acute Kidney Injury

  • 102 AKI: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Buckstein, Jonah, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Hammond, Sarah M., Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Harrison, Tyrone, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Silver, Samuel A., Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Background

Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of surgery, with an incidence of 18-47%. The KDIGO guidelines offer a bundle of preventative strategies to mitigate AKI risk. Our study examined how often the risk of AKI and elements of the KDIGO bundle were mentioned by healthcare providers in their preoperative notes.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients ≥ 18 years followed in a tertiary care advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) clinic who underwent elective surgery with a preoperative anesthesia assessment between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2022. We extracted data on provider awareness of AKI, inclusion of KDIGO bundle elements in preoperative assessments, and qualitative comments on AKI risk assessment. We analyzed the quantitative data descriptively, stratifying our findings by preoperative healthcare provider awareness of AKI. We used a constant comparison technique and consensus to analyze qualitative comments.

Results

Of 91 patients, the mean age was 76 (±13) years, 75% were male, and 96% had category 4 or 5 CKD. Postoperative AKI and dialysis frequencies were 13% and 1%, respectively. Few anesthesia providers (n=22/91, 24%) mentioned the risk of postoperative AKI. The most commonly documented KDIGO recommendations included holding ACEi/ARB medications (n=15/21, 80%), obtaining a preoperative creatinine measure (n=66/91, 73%), and considering hemodynamic monitoring (n=28/91, 31%). The least mentioned KDIGO recommendations included avoiding radiocontrast media (n=0/91, 0%), controlling hyperglycemia (n=2/91, 2%), and documenting the need for a postoperative creatinine (n=2/91, 2%). There was no difference in the inclusion of KDIGO bundle elements when stratifying preoperative awareness of AKI. In qualitative comments, providers who recognized postoperative AKI risk frequently mentioned the potential for dialysis (n=12/22, 55%), rarely utilized risk scores (n=1/22, 5%), and did not provide any actionable postoperative orders (n=0/22, 0%).

Conclusion

Among patients with advanced CKD, only 24% of anesthesia providers mentioned the risk of AKI in their pre-operative assessments. Opportunities may exist to improve the perioperative care of patients with advanced CKD by increasing awareness of AKI risk and the KDIGO bundle elements.