Among the various medications used in anesthesia, most of these are fat-soluble. In obese patients, the distribution of anesthetics occurs in the fatty peripheral compartment, which is increased, delaying recovery from anesthesia [1]. Based on this information, the choice of substances with faster recovery, less production of active metabolites and predictable elimination are recommended for anesthesia in bariatric surgeries [2]. Following this principle, remifentanil, with its characteristic extrahepatic metabolism (plasma and tissue esterases), which guarantees rapid recovery, even after prolonged infusion, and has an elimination half-life of 9 to 10 minutes, has a good indication for anesthesia in patients obese [3] [4] [5]. Breen et al. [6] studied the effect of remifentanil infused over 72 hours in patients with renal failure, admitted to the intensive care unit, with no increase in the incidence of adverse effects and prolonged pharmacodynamic effects of the drug.

Several techniques have been used in the anesthesia of the morbidly obese. In our Anesthesiology Service, dexmedetomidine in continuous infusion for anesthesia in obese patients has been successfully used since 2002. This drug is an alpha-2 agonist with a great affinity for the receptor (1620:1) [7] reduces blood pressure and heart rate, has an analgesic, hypnotic and sedative effect [8], with the peculiarity of not causing respiratory depression, even in doses high [9]. Another advantage is its ability to present synergism with most inhaled anesthetics [10] and opioids [11], reducing the number of drugs in anesthesia.

Experimental studies show that this drug acts on renal function, reducing the release of antidiuretic hormone and, consequently, increasing diuresis (8). In addition, results of a clinical study showed that this drug acts not only in distal renal tubules but also in the proximal portion of the nephron, improving renal performance in the postoperative period of patients undergoing thoracotomy [11]. Sudré et al. [12], in a comparative study between dexmedetomidine and remifentanil, used as adjuvants to the anesthetic technique (general/epidural) in bariatric surgery, involving 92 morbidly obese patients, evaluated anesthetic recovery and postoperative analgesia. This study showed the superiority of the remifentanil group over dexmedetomidine in terms of anesthetic recovery and postoperative analgesia.

Considering that obese individuals with renal failure, in addition to representing an additional challenge for the anesthesiologist, may show improvement in this function after bariatric surgery [13] [14] [15] [16], the aim of the present study was to comparatively study the effect of dexmedetomidine or remifentanil on the renal function of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

In the present study, the selected patients presented aged between 19 and 63 years (35.6 ± 9.9 years) were prospectively studied, being 17 (27.8%) male and 44 (72.2%) female, regardless of race Analyzing the results for the variables age, weight, height, and BMI, it was found that there was no significant difference between the groups (Table 1). As for sex, in group R there were 33.4% male and 66.6% female, and in group D 22.6% male and 77.4% female.

In the evaluation of renal function, the mean values of plasma concentration of sodium, creatinine, urea and antidiuretic hormone before anesthesia (OM), after anesthetic induction (M1) and after surgical incision (M2), did not show differences between groups R and D (Table 2). Significant differences were found between groups for potassium in M1 (p < 0.05), osmolarity in M2 (p < 0.05) and glucose in M1 and M2 (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) (Table 2).

Regarding the mean values of urinary concentration of sodium, potassium, creatinine, urea, and osmolarity, there were no differences between groups R and D at moments M0 and M1 (Table 3). In M2, significant differences were observed between the groups for potassium and urea (p < 0.05), and sodium, creatinine, and osmolarity (p < 0.01) (Table 3). The urine volume was significantly different between the groups only at time M2 (p < 0.001) (Table 3).

In the mean values of sodium clearance, no significant differences were observed between groups in M0, M1, and M2 (Table 4). At M1 and M2, the differences were significant between the groups for potassium (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) (Table 4). For creatinine, there was a significant difference between groups at M1 (p < 0.05) (Table 4). In M1 and M2, the differences were significant between groups for urea (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) (Table 4). In the values of osmolar clearances and free water and fractional sodium excretion, there was no significant difference between groups at all times (Table 4).

There was no acute renal failure in any patient in the present study.

Groups: R (remifentanil), D (dexmedetomidine).

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. ¹Group R (remifentanil, n = 14), D (dexmedetomidina, n = 15); ²Group R (remifentanil, n = 13), D (dexmedetomidina, n = 14).

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. ¹n = 29; ²Group R (remifentanil, n = 14), D (dexmedetomidine, n = 15); ³Median, 1st and 3rd quartile between brackets.

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.001. ¹Median, 10 and 30 quartile between brackets.

In the present study, the effect of dexmedetomidine (group D) and remifentanil (group R) on the renal function of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery was studied. In group R, from M0-control (before induction of anesthesia) to M1 (after anesthetic induction) and from M1 to M2 (after surgical incision), there was a reduction in mean clearance values in all variables, indicating that the renal function of obese patient had a physiological response compatible with the effect of anesthetic-surgical stress. In group D, the mean values of sodium and osmolar clearance increased from M0 to M1, suggesting better preservation of renal function in this phase of bariatric surgery. In addition, creatinine clearance in M1 and urinary volume in M2 indicated better initial glomerular and distal tubular function in this group, respectively.

Regarding the age group, there was no significant difference between groups. However, according to Sharma et al. [21], patients over 50 years of age are 5 times more at risk of developing acute renal failure than young individuals, because, with advancing age, there is a decline in the glomerular filtration rate.

In this study, real weight was used in the calculation of remifentanil. Egan et al. [22] recommended ideal weight for the use of remifentanil in patients with obesity. However, it is worth adding the practice facility of using the dose used of 0.1 µg∙kg⁻¹∙min⁻¹ (which was obtained after several simulations, when it was concluded that this dose is very close to that obtained by ideal weight formulas). In addition, the use of dexmedetomidine was done in real weight and, since it is a covert study, remifentanil would also have to be used based on real weight. With regard to dexmedetomidine, there are no studies on pharmacokinetics in obese individuals, using the real weight calculation based on the pharmacodynamic effects observed in our service.

A higher plasma potassium concentration was found in group D in M1 compared to group R. One of the factors that may have contributed to this higher concentration includes the patient’s poor positioning on the operating table, which, according to Lagandre et al. [23] represents the cause of rhabdomyolysis in obese people, causing points of greater pressure and consequent cell damage with the release of intracellular content.

In this investigation, there was a higher plasma glucose concentration in M1 and M2 in group D compared to the group R. Belleville et al. [24] found hyperglycemia after administration of dexmedetomidine in volunteers. Blood glucose can be the result of the action of several stress-related hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol, and others) and insulin. In this series, glycemia resulted from the ability of anesthetics dexmedetomidine and remifentanil to block the stress response and dexmedetomidine to inhibit insulin secretion in the pancreas [24]. Fagerholm et al. [25] defined, in a study in rats, the role of the alpha 2a subtype in inhibiting the release of insulin by β cells of the pancreas and the consequent hyperglycemia and action of dexmedetomidine in this process.

The plasma concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) did not differ between groups. It is known that alpha2 agonist drugs promote increased diuresis [26]. This increase may be due to the inhibition of ADH secretion [27] or a decrease in its tubular action [28]. In experimental studies, alpha2 receptors have been identified in areas of the kidney [29]. Rouch et al. [30] identified prostaglandin E2 in rats as the second messenger in the mechanism responsible for inhibiting ADH in the medullary collecting duct. The mechanisms related to ADH inhibition may be related to hemodynamic factors, such as increased blood pressure [30] and central venous pressure [31] or central block of supraoptic secretory cells [32]. Nascimento et al. [12] observed in the dog that dexmedetomidine inhibited ADH secretion in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting direct central inhibition of the drug.

In this study, there was no reduction in ADH, probably due to the action of several mechanisms that increase ADH in response to anesthetic-surgical stress, preoperative fasting, and ventilation with intermittent positive pressure associated with positive end-expiratory pressure. In addition, it is worth mentioning that, in the present study, there was no control group.

In addition, intraoperative remifentanil is associated with increased postoperative analgesic needs and consumption of opioids [1]. Dexmedetomidine has characteristics suggesting that it can replace intraoperative remifentanil during general anesthesia, but the existing literature has reported conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate whether general anesthesia, including dexmedetomidine, would result in less postoperative pain than general anesthesia, including remifentanil. Twenty-one randomized controlled trials, including 1309 patients, were identified. Pain scores at rest in two postoperative hours were lower in the dexmedetomidine group, with a mean difference (95% CI) of −0.7 (−1.2 to −0.2), I2 = 85%, p = 0.004 and moderate quality of evidence. Secondary pain results were also significantly better in the dexmedetomidine group. The rates of hypotension, tremors and nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period were at least twice as frequent in patients who received remifentanil. The time to request analgesia was longer, and the use of postoperative morphine and rescue analgesia was shorter, with dexmedetomidine, while episodes of bradycardia were similar between groups. There is moderate evidence that intraoperative dexmedetomidine during general anesthesia improves pain results during the first 24 hours after surgery when compared to remifentanil, with fewer side effects [1].

Before analyzing the results obtained from the clearances, it should be noted that obesity acts on the kidney in order to conserve water and sodium, with an increase in circulating plasma volume at the expense of renal water retention. In the pathophysiology of obesity-related glomerulopathy, mechanisms have proposed that point in this direction. Extrinsic compression of the kidney by visceral fat causes an increase in medullary interstitial hydrostatic pressure and, consequently, compression of the Henle loop and straight vasa, slowing the flow in the renal tubule and straight vasa, favoring the elevation of tubular sodium reabsorption and consequent volume expansion [33].

Hormonal factors are also postulated. Leptin secreted by adipocytes can activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system [34]. Insulin resistance, associated with visceral obesity, can affect blood pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system and cause increased sodium reabsorption, as well as blocking the vasodilator response of nitric oxide [35]. Despite several renal changes, few studies have attempted to study renal function in the perioperative period of bariatric surgery.

In this study, there was a gradual worsening of renal function in both groups, most clearly from M0-control (before induction of anesthesia) to M2 (after surgical incision) and from M1 (after anesthetic induction) to M2. The preservation of renal function in obese patients is faced with neurohumor responses in the opposite direction (release of renin, ADH, adrenaline, noradrenaline) in the face of anesthetic-surgical stress and fluid restriction imposed by preoperative fasting. Nguyen et al., [36] investigating hormonal response in morbidly obese patients (BMI 40 - 60) undergoing laparoscopic or open technique gastroplasty, found no significant difference in hormonal response (aldosterone, renin, antidiuretic hormone) after 2 hours gastroplasty. On the other hand, Ortega et al. [37], in non-obese individuals referred for cholecystectomy, found, after 1 hour of surgery, a higher plasma ADH concentration in the group submitted to laparoscopy in relation to the open technique group.

Regarding preoperative fasting, there was no intravenous fluid replacement before the patient was taken to the operating room, as obese patients have difficulty in venoclysis. Thus, fasting was replaced after venipuncture in the operating room and beginning of surgery up to M2.

In this research, despite the similar evolution in both groups due to the absence of adequate blocking of the neuro-endocrine response aiming at protecting the kidney, in group D there were moments with better renal preservation, such as an increase in the mean values of sodium and osmolar clearances from M0 to M1, contrary to the results obtained in group R, in which there was a reduction. In addition, in M1, there was an increase in creatinine and urea clearances in group D compared to group R.

Creatinine clearance corresponds to the measurement of the glomerular filtration rate, indicating proximal function of the kidney. This rate is directly related to the renal flow that is maintained by systemic blood pressure, being directly influenced by the neurohumoral discharge in the face of stress. Frumento et al. [13] found greater creatinine clearance in the group that used epidural dexmedetomidine compared to the control group, in the use for post-thoracotomy analgesia. The authors attributed this result to blocking the neuroendocrine response to stress [38], minimizing the systemic vasoconstrictor response [38], as well as decreasing the release of norepinephrine by presynaptic receptors located in the kidney [39]. Urea clearance can be used as a measure of the glomerular filtration rate. However, this measure is not used, as urea presents tubular reabsorption [40].

Potassium clearance in M1 and M2 was higher in group D compared to group R, probably due to the higher plasma concentration of this ion in the first group, since potassium secretion in the final portion of the distal tubules and cortical collecting tubules is directly stimulated by the concentration of increased potassium in the extracellular fluid [41].

Urinary volume was relatively higher in group D compared to group R, indicating blockade of ADH tubular action by dexmedetomidine. This can be explained by the non-reduction in plasma concentration by this drug. In addition, in group D there was a reduction in urinary osmolarity and an increase in plasma osmolarity.

Considering that obese individuals with renal failure represent a challenge for the anesthesiologist, research on the effect of the anesthetics studied here on the hormonal response and consequent renal function in the perioperative period is necessary, as studies show the occurrence of post-gastroplasty renal failure and indicate factors of risk such as BMI > 50 [21], previous chronic kidney disease [21], elevated surgical time [21], intraoperative hypotension [21] [42], hyperlipidemia [32], preoperative use of converting enzyme blocker or blocker angiotensin receptor [42]. Finally, research evaluating the incidence of acute renal failure, in the postoperative period and in a large number of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, found nine independent risk factors and one of these was the body mass index (BMI) greater than 32 [43]. This shows the relevance of the present study.

The main limitations that can be pointed out in the present study are the sample size of 61 patients and the fact that hyperglycemia occurs in the dexmedetomidine group.

In both groups, there was a reduction in the values of clearances from M0 (before anesthesia) to M2 (after surgical incision), indicating that the renal function of the obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery showed a physiological response compatible with the effect of anesthetic-surgical stress. In the remifentanil (R) group, there was a reduction in all clearances in M1 (after anesthetic induction), indicating a response compatible with anesthetic-surgical stress. There was hyperglycemia in the dexmedetomidine group (D). In the dexmedetomidine group (D), there was an increase in creatinine and sodium clearances in M1. The urine volume increased by M2. These results are suggestive of better preservation of renal function.

We would like to thank financial support of Base Hospital and Famerp of São José do Rio Preto/SP.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Meinberg, A.C., Meinberg, J.P.R., Artíbale, N.S., Vianna, P.T.G. and Filho, I.J.Z. (2020) Effect of Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil on Renal Function in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery. Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 10, 120-133. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojanes.2020.104011