Association between Enterocyte Injury and Mortality in Patients on Hemodialysis Who Underwent Cardiac Surgery: An Exploratory Study

Background Intestinal ischemia and enterocyte injury are significant causes of death after cardiac surgery. Hemodialysis is a well-known risk factor for intestinal ischemia. However, the relationship between enterocyte injury and mortality is unclear. This exploratory study assessed the association between intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP), a specific marker of enterocyte injury, at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality in patients on hemodialysis who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Materials and methods Forty-seven consecutive patients on long-term hemodialysis who underwent elective cardiac surgery (median age, 70 y; men, 27 [57%]) were prospectively enrolled. The association between serum I-FABP levels at ICU admission and in-hospital mortality was compared with the associations between serum I-FABP levels and prognostic severity scores, vasoactive-inotropic scores, and lactate levels. Results Only I-FABP levels at ICU admission were significantly related to in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 5.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-28.43) in the simple logistic regression analysis. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses indicated prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (ρ, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.15-0.83), higher mean norepinephrine dose (ρ, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.12), lower mean dopamine dose (ρ, −0.51; 95% CI, −0.94 to −0.08), and intra-aortic balloon pump use (ρ, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.68-5.59) were significant risk factors for high I-FABP levels. Conclusions Enterocyte injury at ICU admission was associated with in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery for patients on hemodialysis. Intraoperative hidden hypoperfusion of the intestine may impact prognoses. Enterocyte injury prevention, early diagnosis, and intervention for intestinal ischemia might be required to improve outcomes.