Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Kidney protection strategies may help prevent moderate or severe AKI in high-risk patients. This study aims to assess the effect of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) kidney protection strategy for the prevention of AKI in patients after major surgery. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the kidney protection strategy recommended by international guidelines consisting of hemodynamic and fluid status optimization, avoidance of nephrotoxins or radiocontrast agents, regular monitoring of kidney function, and glycemic control to standard care in high-risk patients after major surgery with an enrichment strategy based on renal biomarkers. The primary outcome was moderate or severe AKI (KDIGO stage ≥ 2) within 72 h after surgery. MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 1, 2000, to September 1, 2025. References of eligible trials and related reviews were hand-searched. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2.0. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. IPD were pooled. Odds ratios (ORs) and mean difference with 95

Acute kidney injury (AKI) prevalence in surgical patients is high, emphasizing the need for preventative measures. This study addresses the insufficient evidence on nephroprotective intraoperative fluid resuscitation and highlights the drawbacks of relying solely on serum creatinine/urine output to monitor kidney function. This study assessed the impact of intraoperative fluid management on AKI in female breast cancer patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction, utilizing novel urinary biomarkers (TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7). In a monocentric prospective randomized controlled trial involving 40 patients, liberal (LFA) and restrictive (FRV) fluid management strategies were compared. TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7 biomarker levels were assessed using the NephroCheck (bioMerieux, France) test kit at preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 24-h postoperative stages. FRV showed significantly higher immediate postoperative biomarker levels, indicating renal tubular stress. FRV patients had 21% (4/19) experiencing AKI compared to 13% (2/15) in the LFA group according to KDIGO criteria (p = 0.385). Restrictive fluid resuscitation increases the risk of AKI in surgical patients significantly, emphasizing the necessity for individualized hemodynamic management. The findings underscore the importance of urinary biomarkers in early AKI detection.

Background. Pneumonia in liver transplant recipients is one of the most common infections in the early phase after transplantation. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs combined with positive microbiological samples taken from the lower respiratory tract. However, the role of bacterial colonization is not clear, nor is its association with pneumonia or its long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between positive microbiological findings and clinically relevant pneumonia and analyze different clinical and laboratory parameters for their association with pneumonia in liver transplant recipients. Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of 266 adult orthotopic liver transplantations between January 2008 and December 2013. A multidisciplinary in-house specialist panel established and confirmed the diagnosis of clinically relevant pneumonia in microbiologically positive patients. Results. Of the 266 transplantations analyzed, 54 patients (20%) showed microbiologically positive trachea-bronchial cultures during the first 21 days after liver transplantation. Of those 54 patients, 24 (44.4%) had pneumonia as rated by the multidisciplinary specialist panel. Presence of gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae (P =.013) and positive chest radiologic findings (P =.035) were associated with pneumonia in microbiological-positive patients. Although patients with pneumonia had the lowest long-term survival, those without pneumonia but with positive microbiological cultures had still worse survival compared with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-matched control group without positive cultures (P =.012). Conclusions. Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae and positive radiologic findings were associated with pneumonia in liver transplant recipients with positive microbiological trachea-bronchial cultures. Recipients with bacterial colonization without pneumonia also showed decreased long-term survival.

Background: The facilitation of early recovery of acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important step to improve outcome, particularly because of the limited therapeutic interventions currently available for AKI. The combination of an electronic alert and biomarker-guided kidney-protection strategy implemented in the routine care may have an impact on the incidence of early complete reversal of AKI after major non-cardiac surgery. Methods: We studied 294 patients in two cohorts before (n = 151) and after protocol implementation (n = 143). Data collection required 6 months for each cohort. The kidney-protection protocol included an electronic alert to detect patients who were eligible for urinary biomarker [TIMP2 × IGFBP7]-guided kidney-protection intervention. Intervention was stratified according to three levels of immediate AKI risk: low, moderate, and high. After intervention, postoperative changes in the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were identified with a tracking software that included an alert for nephrology consultation if the eGFR had declined by >25% from the preoperative reference value. Primary outcome was early AKI recovery, i.e., the complete reversal of any AKI stage to absence of AKI within the first 7 postoperative days. Results: Protocol implementation significantly increased the recovery of AKI (36/46, 78% compared to control 27/48, 56%, (p = 0.025)) and reduced the length of the ICU stay (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of all AKI and moderate and severe AKI in the first 7 postoperative days: 46/143 (32%) and 12/151 (8%) in the protocol implementation group compared to 48/151 (32%) and 18/151 (12%) in the historical control group. Patients with AKI reversal within the first 7 postoperative days had lower in-hospital mortality than patients without AKI reversal. Conclusions: Implementing a combined electronic alert and biomarker-guided kidney-protection strategy in routine care improved early recovery of AKI after major surgery.

The first FDA-approved test to assess risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7], is clinically available in many parts of the world, including the USA and Europe. We sought to understand how the test is currently being used clinically. We invited a group of experts knowledgeable on the utility of this test for kidney injury to a panel discussion regarding the appropriate use of the test. Specifically, we wanted to identify which patients would be appropriate for testing, how the results are interpreted, and what actions would be taken based on the results of the test. We used a modified Delphi method to prioritize specific populations for testing and actions based on biomarker test results. No attempt was made to evaluate the evidence in support of various actions however. Our results indicate that clinical experts have developed similar practice patterns for use of the [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] test in Europe and North America. Patients undergoing major surgery (both cardiac and non-cardiac), those who were hemodynamically unstable, or those with sepsis appear to be priority patient populations for testing kidney stress. It was agreed that, in patients who tested positive, management of potentially nephrotoxic drugs and fluids would be a priority. Patients who tested negative may be candidates for “fast-track” protocols. In the experience of our expert panel, biomarker testing has been a priority after major surgery, hemodynamic instability, or sepsis. Our panel members reported that a positive test prompts management of nephrotoxic drugs as well as fluids, while patients with negative results are considered to be excellent candidates for “fast-track” protocols.

Early complications after aortic surgery, such as bleeding, vessel occlusion, and organ ischemia require quick and targeted diagnostics to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound can be used for quick bedside diagnosis of vascular and organ complications.

Human regulatory macrophages (Mreg) have shown early clinical promise as a cell-based adjunct immunosuppressive therapy in solid organ transplantation. It is hypothesised that recipient CD4+ T cell responses are actively regulated through direct allorecognition of donor-derived Mregs. Here we show that human Mregs convert allogeneic CD4+ T cells to IL-10-producing, TIGIT+ FoxP3+-induced regulatory T cells that non-specifically suppress bystander T cells and inhibit dendritic cell maturation. Differentiation of Mreg-induced Tregs relies on multiple non-redundant mechanisms that are not exclusive to interaction of Mregs and T cells, including signals mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, TGF-β, retinoic acid, Notch and progestagen-associated endometrial protein. Preoperative administration of donor-derived Mregs to living-donor kidney transplant recipients results in an acute increase in circulating TIGIT+ Tregs. These results suggest a feed-forward mechanism by which Mreg treatment promotes allograft acceptance through rapid induction of direct-pathway Tregs.

Mitterrand proposed a new doctrin which was to avoid discussion on French national ‘‘problems’’ outside homeland, and since this time this doctrin is most of the time respected. Anyway, we agree with pleasure to address several comments raised by Karem Slim. In his letter, Mr. Slim regrets the absence of details regarding the surgical access for the patients included in our trial. We would like to remind here that the cornerstone of our trial was indeed the lack of evidence regarding the outcome of ERP in laparoscopic patients, and that all included patients were operated on through a laparoscopic approach. On the same way, Mr. Slim is surprised by the use of postoperative carbohydrate loading in our study. We would also like to remind here that such postoperative carbohydrate loading was used in the LAFA trial, one of the few previously published randomized trials assessing the results of ERP in laparoscopic patients. Finally, we would like to remind here that the full ERP was initially described including an epidural anesthesia in all patients, but this latter has since been shown to be associated with an increased rate of postoperative complication rate following colorectal cancer surgery and as therefore been abandoned by the majority of authors. Most importantly, we do not look at the results of our trial as an advocacy against ERP but rather as a way to facilitate its implementation. Indeed, our results clearly show that large part of the benefit expected with ERP is obtained with a limited, and easily implemented, program including laparoscopic approach, and early postoperative feeding and mobilization. We are fully convinced that the concept of ERP is a major advance of modern surgery, leading to decreased postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stay. However, we also know, based on our own experience and on some reports from other teams, that the implementation of a full ERP can be difficult and might discourage some surgeons. We therefore think that our trial might help the widespread of ERP among the majority of surgeons.

Basic science data suggest that acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inflammatory process involving the adaptive immune response. Little is known about the T-cell contribution in the very early phase, so we investigated if tubular cellular stress expressed by elevated cell cycle biomarkers is associated with early changes in circulating T-cell subsets, applying a bedside-to-bench approach.

Frühkomplikationen nach Aorteneingriffen wie Blutung, Gefäßverschluss oder Organischämie erfordern eine rasche und zielführende Diagnostik, um Morbidität und Mortalität zu senken. Der bettseitige Ultraschall kann zur schnellen Diagnostik bei Gefäß- und Organkomplikationen eingesetzt werden.

Objective: To determine the impact of renal biomarker-guided implementation of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) care bundle on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after major noncardiac surgery in a single-center unblinded randomized clinical trial. Background: Early optimization of volume status and discontinuation of nephrotoxic medication before the occurrence of AKI may be the crucial step to reduce preventable AKI. Methods: The urinary biomarker-triggered KDIGO care bundle (early optimization of fluid status, maintenance of perfusion pressure, discontinuation of nephrotoxic agents) was compared to standard intensive care unit (ICU) care in 121 patients with an increased AKI risk after major abdominal surgery that was determined by urinary biomarker (inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2xinsulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7) >0.3. Incidence of overall AKI, severity of AKI, length of stay, major kidney events at discharge, and cost effectiveness were evaluated. Results: The overall stages of AKI were not statistically different between the 2 groups, but in patients with inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2xinsulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 values of 0.3 to 2.0 a subgroup analysis demonstrated a significantly reduced incidence of AKI 13/48 (27.1%) in the intervention group compared to control 24/50 (48.0%, P = 0.03). Incidence of moderate and severe AKI (P = 0.04), incidence of creatinine increase >25% of baseline value (P = 0.01), length of ICU, and hospital stay (P = 0.04) were significantly lower in the intervention group. Intervention was associated with cost reduction. There were no significant differences regarding renal replacement therapy, in-hospital mortality, or major kidney events at hospital discharge. Conclusions: Early biomarker-based prediction of imminent AKI followed by implementation of KDIGO care bundle reduced AKI severity, postoperative creatinine increase, length of ICU, and hospital stay in patients after major noncardiac surgery.

Die akute Nierenschädigung [„acute kidney injury“ (AKI)] stellt eine häufige und schwerwiegende Komplikation bei kritisch kranken Patienten dar. Aktuelle Daten zur Prävalenz und den resultierenden Kosten der AKI sowie eine Übersicht zu den häufigsten AKI-assoziierten Diagnosen auf deutschen Intensivstationen fehlen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The prognosis of intensive care patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with increased mortality is still poor. Current data on the prevalence and the resulting costs of AKI and an overview of the most common diagnoses associated with AKI in German intensive care units (ICU) are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS:In this retrospective study all adult admissions (> 18 Jahre) in the five ICUs at the University Clinic Regensburg (in total 78 beds) from1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 were evaluated. The ICU diagnoses commonly associated with AKI were identified using the international classification of diseases 10 (ICD 10). The length of ICU and hospital stays and AKI-associated hospital costs in the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) based reimbursement system were compared. RESULTS:A total of 891 ICU patients with AKI were classified according to the ICD 10 code. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), myocardial infarction (MI) and sepsis were the three most common ICU conditions associated with AKI. A total of 1103 patients were admitted with 1 of these 3 main diagnoses and 249 (22.6 %) of these patients developed AKI. Patients with AKI had significantly longer mean ICU and hospital stays compared to patients without AKI (18.6 vs 5.1 days and 23.8 vs. 10.4 days, respectively, p < 0.001). The presence of AKI in critically ill patients with ARDS, MI and sepsis resulted in additional costs of 2,019,120.42 € at the University Hospital of Regensburg in 2013. CONCLUSION:Acute kidney injury in critically ill patients represents a significant medical and socioeconomic burden. Early recognition of patients at risk, coordinated research into novel interventions and establishment of the National Acute Kidney Injury Network for implementation of evidence-based therapies may be the next steps to decrease the incidence and severity of AKI and save costs for the national healthcare system.

Occlusion of renal artery during stenting procedure by endovascular aortic repair leads to ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI). Additionally, significant amount of intravenous contrast agent is used during the procedure. Therefore acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common postoperative complications. Current experimental data suggest an important role of systemic immune reaction in development of AKI after IRI and nephrotoxic agents. However, robust analysis of cellular immune response in clinical setting and its relation to AKI after IRI and iv contrast have not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the ability of the urinary biomarkers IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2) to early predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in high-risk surgical patients. INTRODUCTION:Postoperative AKI is associated with an increase in short and long-term mortality. Using IGFBP7 and TIMP-2 for early detection of cellular kidney injury, thus allowing the early initiation of renal protection measures, may represent a new concept of evaluating renal function. METHODS:In this prospective study, urinary [TIMP-2]×[IGFBP7] was measured in surgical patients at high risk for AKI. A predefined cut-off value of [TIMP-2]×[IGFBP7] >0.3 was used for assessing diagnostic accuracy. Perioperative characteristics were evaluated, and ROC analyses as well as logistic regression models of risk assessment were calculated with and without a [TIMP-2]×[IGFBP7] test. RESULTS:107 patients were included in the study, of whom 45 (42%) developed AKI. The highest median values of biomarker were detected in septic, transplant and patients after hepatic surgery (1.24 vs 0.45 vs 0.47 ng/l²/1000). The area under receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the risk of any AKI was 0.85, for early use of RRT 0.83 and for 28-day mortality 0.77. In a multivariable model with established perioperative risk factors, the [TIMP-2]×[IGFBP7] test was the strongest predictor of AKI and significantly improved the risk assessment (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Urinary [TIMP-2]×[IGFBP7] test sufficiently detect patients with risk of AKI after major non-cardiac surgery. Due to its rapid responsiveness it extends the time frame for intervention to prevent development of AKI.

The prognosis of intensive care patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with increased mortality rates (up to 30 %), is still poor. In the long run, patients with acute kidney injury on ICU have a high risk of maintaining advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or even end-stage renal disease (ESRD).