Abstract
This aim of this review is to highlight recent studies that have furthered our understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery. AKI is an important postoperative complication of cardiac surgery and is an independent risk factor for perioperative mortality. A consensus definition of AKI, the risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria, has recently been evaluated in the cardiac surgery population. AKI is an independent risk factor for postoperative death and is associated with increased postoperative complications and overall resource utilization. Despite the high early mortality rate, patients with postoperative AKI who survive to hospital discharge have a reasonable long-term prognosis. The identification of risk factors for AKI has allowed the development of preoperative risk stratification strategies. Future studies are necessary to determine if preoperative risk stratification leads to improved outcomes by implementation of renoprotective measures at the time of surgery.