Renal pulsatility index assessment by intraoperative doppler ultrasound is associated with acute kidney…

ObservationalJournal of clinical anesthesia· Jun 2026

Renal pulsatility index assessment by intraoperative doppler ultrasound is associated with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.

Xuemei Cheng, Qianlei Wang, Zhenyu Yuan … Chong Lei

AnesthesiologyObservationalPrognosisQ1IF 3.9

Higher renal pulsatility index right after cardiac surgery is linked to acute kidney injury.

Renal pulsatility index assessment by intraoperative doppler ultrasound is associated with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.

Xuemei Cheng … Chong Lei

Journal of clinical anesthesia · Jun 2026 · Q1 in Anesthesiology

Background

Acute kidney injury (acute kidney injury) is a common complication among patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate whether the renal pulsatility index (renal pulsatility index) could serve as an early diagnostic marker for the development of acute kidney injury (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, KDIGO-defined) following cardiac surgery.

Methods

This prospective observational study enrolled 500 patients meeting the inclusion criteria.

n = 500 patients

Results

higher pulsatility index right after surgery, nearly 4-fold higher acute kidney injury risk

OR 3.72 (95% CI 1.92 to 7.20)

null 1

1.92

7.20

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

A total of 161 patients (32.2%) developed acute kidney injury.

Among them, 46 classified as moderate to severe acute kidney injury.

More results

Compared with patients without acute kidney injury, patients with acute kidney injury had a significantly higher renal pulsatility index at T3 (1.30 ± 0.28 vs 1.44 ± 0.34, P = 0.004), while no significant differences were observed at the other time points.

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Conclusion

An elevated renal pulsatility index immediately after surgery was associated with increased risk of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Renal pulsatility index assessment by intraoperative doppler ultrasound is associated with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.

Renal pulsatility index assessment by intraoperative doppler ultrasound is associated with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.

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