Effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) added to fenoldopam or dopamine on end-tidal carbon dioxide and mean arterial pressure at time of renal artery declamping during cadaveric kidney transplantation.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is known to be a powerful antioxidant used to prevent renal damage. Our deceased-donor kidney transplantation protocol administered an NAC bolus at the time of declamping of the renal artery to reduce the potential oxidative damage with ischemia-reperfusion. The aim of injury this study was to compare the effects of NAC added to a continuous infusion of either fenoldopam or dopamine during kidney recipient anesthesia on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ECO(2)), which were assumed to be expressions of oxidative and acid-base status. One hundred forty patients undergoing deceased donor kidney transplantation were enrolled in the study. Using a standardized perioperative anesthesia protocol, the patients were divided into 4 groups: group N, receiving an NAC (50 mg/kg) bolus just before renal artery declamping (n = 40); group C, not receiving any NAC or other infusion (n = 20); group NF, same treatment as group N plus fenoldopam (0.1 microg/kg/min) continuous infusion (n = 40); and group ND, same treatment as group N plus dopamine (3 microg/kg/min) continuous infusion (n = 40). We recorded the duration of kidney cold and warm ischemia and EtCO(2) and MAP values before and after arterial declamping, as well as subjective evaluations of graft perfusion and the incidence of early or delayed graft function and adverse events. EtCO(2) was higher and MAP lower in group C compared with group N; comparing groups N, ND, and NF, the NF regimen resulted in lower EtCO(2) and higher MAP values and a greater incidence of early graft function. Subjective evaluation of graft perfusion was more favorable for groups N, ND, and NC, particularly for NF. No significant periprocedural adverse events were recorded in the groups. In our experience, the association of an NAC bolus at the time of renal artery declamping and continuous infusion of fenoldopam resulted in a minor, though non-significant, increase in EtCO(2) values, higher MAP, and greater incidence of early graft function during deceased-donor kidney transplantation compared with no NAC or NAC plus renal-dose dopamine. Further studies are necessary to better define the potential role of oxidative damage in renal ischemia- reperfusion injury, including implications for outcome, as well as the potential role of the combination of NAC plus fenoldopam as a nephroprotective and outcome-modulating regimen.

Wound levobupivacaine continuous infusion for postoperative analgesia in living kidney donors: case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an analgesic regimen based on levobupivacaine continuous infusion into the surgical wound of living kidney donors (LKDs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty adult LKDs (mean age, 53.1 +/- 5.3 years; age range, 52-68 years) were retrospectively assigned to a no wound infusion (NWI) group (n = 25) or a wound infusion (WI) group (n = 25). At the end of surgery, patients in the WI group received 10 mg intramuscular morphine; a peridural catheter was placed 10 cm between the intercostal muscles fibers close to the lower rib extremity, and a solution of levobupivacaine, 150 mg/100 mL, was started at 5 ml/h(-1). Patients in the NWI group received intramuscular morphine, 10 mg, every 8 hours; intravenous tramadole, 100 mg, was planned as a rescue drug for incidental pain. Pain was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 1 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain) in both the basal condition (VASb) and during coughing (VASc) at 1 hour after leaving the operating room and 6, 12, and 24 hours thereafter. RESULTS: At 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours, VASb values in the NWI vs the WI group were 5.2 vs 3.1, 6.8 vs 4.1, 5.8 vs 4.9 (all p < .01), and 5.4 vs 5.1, respectively, and VASc values were 8.2 vs 6.3, 8.8 vs 5.9, 7.1 vs 5.3, and 6.8 vs 5.1 (all p < .01). Mean VAS score was significantly higher between 1 and 6 hours in the NWI group for all VASb measurements vs VASc values. Tramadole consumption was higher in the NWI group than in the WI group. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous wound infusion with 5 mL/h(-1) levobupivacaine, 1.5 mg/mL(-1), resulted in a safe and effective analgesic protocol in LKDs both in the immediate postoperative period and in the first day after surgery, a result that was more effective than a morphine-tramadole regimen. No adverse effects were recorded, which confirmed the safety of the technique. It is probable that better results could be achieved with dedicated administration devices.