Effects of Pneumoperitoneum on Kidney Injury Biomarkers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Increased intra-abdominal pressure causes hemodynamic changes that may affect renal biomarkers.

Methods: This randomized, single-blind, single-center clinical trial recruited patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a tertiary care center in Brazil. They were randomly allocated to a standard intra-abdominal pressure group (P10-12, 10-12 mm Hg) and a low intra-abdominal pressure group (P6-8, 6-8 mm Hg). The primary outcome was the change in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C levels measured at the beginning of the procedure (T0), at the end of the procedure (T1), and 24 hours after the procedure (T2). P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: In total, 64 patients completed the study-33 were given standard pressure and 31 were given low pressure. There was no significant difference in the biomarker between the groups (P = 0.580), but there was a significant difference between the time points with elevation at T1 (P < 0.001). Similar to NGAL, cystatin C had an elevation at T1 in both groups (P = 0.021), but no difference was found when comparing the groups.

Conclusions: In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pneumoperitoneum increases NGAL and cystatin C levels intraoperatively, and the use of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum does not change the course of these biomarkers.