Background: The aim of this study was to assess renal morbidity, associated with the use of low flow anaesthesia (LFA), in cancer patients previously treated with nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.
Methods: Seventy-five patients, aged 30-70 years, scheduled for elective surgery, were randomly allocated to three groups: Group A included those patients who had received nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, methotrexate or cyclophosphamide) within 90 days before surgery, and who were anaesthetised with low flow (0.8(-1) L min(-1)) air-oxygen-sevoflurane (1-3 MAC) anaesthesia; Group B included similar patients who received high flow (6 L min-1) anaesthesia. Non-cancer patients receiving low flow anaesthesia served as controls. Blood was sampled for serum creatinine, BUN, cistatin C, and electrolytes (Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), Ca(2+), P(3+), Mg(2+)) before anaesthesia, and one, three and five days after.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups.
Conclusions: The use of low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia is not associated with an increased risk of nephrotoxicity in those previously exposed to nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.