To evaluate the effect of packed red blood cells (pRBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) with total arch replacement (TAR).

From December 2015 to October 2017, 421 consecutive patients with ATAAD undergoing TAR were included in the study. The clinical data of the patients and the amount of pRBCs, FFP, and PC were collected. Acute kidney injury was defined using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Logistic regression was used to identify whether pRBCs, FFP, and platelet transfusions were risk factors for KDIGO AKI, stage 3 AKI, and AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT).

The mean ± standard deviation age of the patients was 47.67±10.82 years; 77.7% were men; and the median time from aortic dissection onset to operation was 1 day (range, 0–2 days). The median transfusion amount was 8 units (range, 4–14 units) for pRBCs, 400 mL (range, 0–800 mL) for FFP, and no units (range, 0–2 units) for PC. Forty-one (41; 9.7%) patients did not receive any blood products. The rates of pRBC, PC, and FFP transfusions were 86.9%, 49.2%, and 72.9%, respectively. The incidence of AKI was 54.2%. Considering AKI as the endpoint, multivariate logistic regression showed that pRBCs (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; p<0.001) and PC transfusions (OR, 1.28; p=0.007) were independent risk factors. Considering KDIGO stage 3 AKI as the endpoint, multivariate logistic regression showed that pRBC transfusion (OR, 1.15; p<0.001), PC transfusion (OR, 1.28; p<0.001), a duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) ≥293 minutes (OR, 2.95; p=0.04), and a creatinine clearance rate of ≤85 mL/minute (OR, 2.12; p=0.01) were independent risk factors. Considering RRT as the endpoint, multivariate logistic regression showed that pRBC transfusion (OR, 1.12; p<0.001), PC transfusion (OR, 1.33; p=0.001), a duration of CPB ≥293 minutes (OR, 3.79; p=0.02), and a creatinine clearance rate of ≤85 mL/minute (OR, 3.34; p<0.001) were independent risk factors.

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes-defined stage AKI was common after TAR for ATAAD. Transfusions of pRBCs and PC increased the incidence of AKI, stage 3 AKI, and RRT. Fresh frozen plasma transfusion was not a risk factor for AKI.