TITLE:
Usefulness of Cardiac Power as a Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury in Cardiac Surgery Patients with Extracorporeal Circulation
AUTHORS:
Jesus E. Nova-Meda, Uriel Narvaez-Lopez, Celia E. Bautista-Crescencio, Waldemar A. Solís-Loria, Huber Beyza-Suazo, Jesser M. Herrera-Salgado, Cesar J. Valle-Torres, Ana E. Montes-García, Andrea Z. Rojas-Nájera, Andrés A. Rojas-Nájera, Citlali L. Salvador-Simon, Marisol Dueñas-Sosa, Oscar G. Jiménez-Cabrera, José H. Ocampo-Mazariegos, Daniel F. Marcial-Rivera, Edgar O. Uribe-Zapata, Carlos E. Reyes-Ramirez, David Ruiz-Romero, Lizzeth N. Cáceres-Cruz, Ana K. Flores-Alejo, Yoav Olivares Soza, Mariana Valerio-Moreno, Ricardo M. Malagón-Reyes, Luis E. Reyes-Mendoza, Jesus C. Briones-Garduño, Javier E. Herrera-Villalobos, Sindy A. Gutierrez-Chavarria
KEYWORDS:
Cardiac Power, Acute Kidney Injury, Extracorporeal Circulation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nephrology,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI), identified by elevated serum creatinine or reduced urine output, is a frequent complication following cardiac surgery. It is associated with hypoperfusion, embolic events, extracorporeal circulation–related injury, and nephrotoxic exposure, affecting up to 43% of adults and 52% of children. Methods: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation were included. AKI was defined according to KDIGO criteria (∆SCr > 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h, >1.5 × baseline within 7 days, or urine output p Results: Forty adults underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (mean age 65.8 ± 9.9 years; 75% male), with no exclusions. Serum creatinine increased from 1.11 ± 0.38 mg/dL at baseline to 2.39 ± 1.16 mg/dL at 48 hours. AKI developed in 34 patients (85%), distributed as stage I: 7.5%, stage II: 17.5%, and stage III: 60%. Cardiac power demonstrated predictive capacity for AKI, though AUROC analysis indicated negligible performance (AUC 0.093, p = 0.002). Conclusions: In patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, mean cardiac output at ICU admission was 3.01 ± 1.12 L/min with cardiac power (CP) of 0.51 ± 0.26 W. AKI occurred in 85% of patients, predominantly stage III. A CP below 0.46 W doubled the risk of AKI regardless of stage, although its AUROC-based predictive performance remained negligible despite statistical significance.