Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol on Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin Levels of Patients after Thoracotomy

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-known complication of surgery that increases the death rate and the side costs of postoperative care and treatment. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein that is emerging as a new marker in the early detection of kidney damage. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: In this study, we try to compare the effect of propofol (Pro) and dexmedetomidine (Dex) on activity in patients undergoing thoracotomy by evaluating and measuring the amount of renal function evaluation factors similar to blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and NGAL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent thoracotomy (with two types of anesthetics Dex and Pro) in the first 6 months of 2019 (April–September) in Masih Daneshvari Hospital were included in this study and the information obtained from all of them was based on a questionnaire design. RESULTS: The BUN index in patients of the two groups was significantly different in three time periods before surgery, 2 h after surgery, and 24 h. Based on the available results, the NGAL index as a factor in assessing renal function was significantly different in the two groups of patients. However, the mean numerical values in all three intervals of NGAL levels were much lower in the patients of the Pro group. However, other indicators in the study did not show significant changes in terms of mean values in the two groups of patients. CONCLUSION: Pro significantly reduced NGAL compared with Dex for thoracotomy surgery.