Incidence, dynamics, and prognostic value of acute kidney injury for death after cardiac surgery

The authors studied over 5,700 pts undergoing CABG to assess the dynamics of changes in renal function and related such changes to mortality.  Perioperative renal dysfunction was associated with increased long-term mortality.  Recovery from renal dysfunction was associated with some improvement in long-term mortality risk.  Alternative methods of classifying renal dysfunction may be more useful than creatinine in assessing long-term risk.