Effects of Dexmedetomidine and Dopamine on Renal Function After Major Surgery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with complications that may lead to multiorgan dysfunction and potentially to multi-organ failure in critically ill patients. AKI accounts for 5-10% after general surgery to 45% after cardiac surgery during hospital stays and tends to be associated with increased length of hospital stay as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Even slight increases in postoperative serum creatinine concentrations have been associated with almost 5-fold increases in mortality. Dexmedetomidine is a potent and highly selective alpha(2)-adreno receptor agonist that has analgesic, sedative, anxiolytic, and sympatholytic effects. In animals, dexmedetomidine has shown protective effects in several models of ischemia-reperfusion, which is thought to be the principal mechanism of AKI in the context of surgery. Dopamine (DA) is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families that has been widely used to increased renal blood flow and urine output. However, the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine and dopamine on renal function are still controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate whether dexmedetomidine and dopamine have positive effects on renal function after selective major surgery.