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Study: RenalGuard system safely reduces AKI after cardiac surgery
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WASHINGTON — The RenalGuard System reduced the rate of acute kidney injury by 50% in patients who underwent cardiac surgery, according to data presented at ASN Kidney Week.
“Acute kidney injury is an important complication following cardiac surgery, which causes a lot of problems for patients both in terms of morbidity and mortality, as well as longer hospital stays,” Heyman Luckraz, MD, FRCS, a cardiac surgeon at the American Hospital Dubai, told Healio Nephrology. “I was looking for something I could do to improve that aspect of recovery. Now, having found this device, I feel happy that I can provide the patient with something that will reduce their risk of developing this problem and have a quicker recovery after the surgery and, hopefully, lower mortality.”
Andrew Halpert, chief technology officer of RenalGuard, explained to Healio Nephrology that the system works by measuring urine output and then infusing a saline base to replace that urine output. This, he said, allows for the patient to safely be given a small dose of diuretic; the combination drives high urine output.
To test the efficacy and safety of RenalGuard, researchers randomized patients (110 in each group) to either RenalGuard or control.
They found the odds of developing AKI were 2.8-times higher in the control group.
“I think now after conducting this study, we can say that if we were to use this device, we are very likely to make a significant impact in terms of the postoperative recovery when it comes to risk of developing AKI,” Luckraz said. “If we can improve patients’ risk of developing AKI, then we can improve on their length of hospital stay, as well as their quality of life and survival after the surgery.”
Halpert said he is encouraged by the “massive reduction in AKI” seen using RenalGuard. The company is working on FDA market approval. – by Melissa J. Webb
Reference:
Luckraz H, et al. Abstract TH-PO1183. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 7-10, 2019; Washington D.C.
Disclosures: The study was funded through a research grant from Renal Guard plc. Halpert reports being an employee of RenalGuard. Luckraz reports no relevant financial disclosures.