Effects of Preoperative Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Therapy on Postoperative Renal Function in Cardiac Surgery

A Best Evidence Topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was—“In patients who undergo cardiac surgery, is preoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy associated with postoperative renal dysfunction?” Altogether, 339 papers were found using the reported search. Ten (10) were chosen which best answered the clinical question. The papers were evaluated for bias and heterogeneity using validated tools and the collected results analysed qualitatively. Evidence in the current literature is inconclusive that preoperative administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy affects postoperative renal dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.