The effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on acute kidney injury after pediatric congenital heart surgery

29 pediatric patients (1-6 years) scheduled for repair of a congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) or a ventricular septal defect (VSD) under cardiopulmonary bypass. Key exclusions: preoperative serum creatinine ≥0.7 mg/dL, cyanotic heart disease, arrhythmia, severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <50%), right heart failure, or preoperative inotropic/vasopressor use.

Dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg bolus over 10 minutes, followed by 0.5 μg/kg/h continuous infusion) administered from 10 minutes after anesthesia induction to the end of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Matching volume of normal saline (bolus and continuous infusion) administered from 10 minutes after anesthesia induction to the end of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine of ≥0.3 mg/dL or a percent increase of ≥50%, measured up to postoperative day 2.surrogate