Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in approximately one-third of patients undergoing cardiac surgery (CS), and represents one of the most significant negative predictors of patient outcome in this population. To date, there is no therapy to prevent AKI. In the healthy adult, a high protein meal is known to enhance glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and is mediated by an increase in renal blood flow. The investigators hypothesized that preoperative oral protein load may induce an adaptive response of the kidneys, and precondition the kidneys for upcoming insults. In the present study, the investigators aimed to compare the prevalence and severity of AKI in patients undergoing oral high protein load of the 'Preoperative Renal Functional Reserve Predict Risk of AKI after Cardiac Operation' study to age- and gender-matched controls who had a standard preoperative care the day prior to surgery within the same period (November 2014-October 2015) at San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy. Both groups were followed 1 year post-discharge to evaluate long-term renal outcomes.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in approximately one-third of patients undergoing cardiac surgery (CS), and represents one of the most significant negative predictors of patient outcome in this population. In the healthy adult, a high protein meal is known to enhance glomerular filtration rate and is mediated by an increase in renal blood flow. The investigators hypothesized that preoperative oral protein load may precondition the kidneys for upcoming insults and reduce the rate of postoperative AKI and long-term renal outcome.