Abstract
Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is a major complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality. There are multiple diagnostic criteria for CS-AKI. Despite many new investigations available for improved AKI diagnostics, creatinine and urea remain the cornerstone of diagnostics in everyday clinical practice. There are three major pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to kidney injury, i.e. renal hypoperfusion, inflammation with oxidative stress, and use of nephrotoxic agents. Some risk factors have been identified that can be modified during the course of treatment (use of nephrotoxic agents, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, type of extracorporeal circulation, postoperative low cardiac output or hypotension). The aim of AKI prevention should always be to prevent aggravation of renal failure and, if possible, to avoid progression to renal replacement therapy, which in turn brings worse long-term outcomes.