Surgical repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta, supported by left heart bypass, is a complex procedure associated with high rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Notably, up to three-quarters of patients develop Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) after this operation, despite the adjunctive use of selective renal perfusion.
Renal ischaemia, caused by aortic cross clamping, is a clear and established risk factor for AKI. However, we believe that significant intravascular haemolysis could be an overlooked contributor to its development.
Our current research project, the HaemoAKI study, is funded by Kidney Research UK and uses biomarker analysis and in vitro human cell assays to assess the toxicity of haemolysis on the nephron. This presentation explains our current study, demonstrates some preliminary findings, and discusses the potential of future research in this area.
James is a Senior Perfusionist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and has an interest in organ protection during aortic surgery. He is Principal Investigator for the HaemoAKI study, funded by Kidney Research UK, and is studying a PhD at the University of Liverpool.
