The Choice of Vasopressor to Prevent Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury After Major Non-Cardiac Surgery

Summary

Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is very common during major surgery under general anesthesia. Prolonged or severe hypotension can lead to complications such as kidney injury after surgery that slow down patient recovery. Anesthesiologists commonly administer medications called vasopressors to treat low blood pressure during surgery. These medications help raise the blood pressure back up to a safe range. Two vasopressor medications are commonly used for this purpose: norepinephrine and phenylephrine. Each of these medications has slightly different effects on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system). It remains unknown which of these standard medications is better for treating low blood pressure during surgery. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine which of these two medications is better at preventing injury to the kidneys after major noncardiac surgery as well as other complications such as heart problems. Major surgeries are defined as those lasting at least two hours under general anesthesia. This trial will randomize about ten centers in North America to use either norepinephrine or phenylephrine as the primary medication to treat low blood pressure in adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery. Each hospital will prioritize one of the drugs each month, and the assigned drug will rotate each month at each hospital. No further participant involvement will be required as de-identified data are collected as part of standard medical care.

Timeline

Start

2025-04-01

Primary completion

2028-07

Completion

2028-07

Publications

• Background Chiu C, Fong N, Lazzareschi D, Mavrothalassitis O, Kothari R, Chen LL, Pirracchio R, Kheterpal S, Domino KB, Mathis M, Legrand M. Fluids, vasopressors, and acute kidney injury after major abdominal surgery between 2015 and 2019: a multicentre retrospective analysis. Br J Anaesth. 2022 Sep;129(3):317-326. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.05.002. Epub 2022 Jun 8.
• Background Futier E, Lefrant JY, Guinot PG, Godet T, Lorne E, Cuvillon P, Bertran S, Leone M, Pastene B, Piriou V, Molliex S, Albanese J, Julia JM, Tavernier B, Imhoff E, Bazin JE, Constantin JM, Pereira B, Jaber S; INPRESS Study Group. Effect of Individualized vs Standard Blood Pressure Management Strategies on Postoperative Organ Dysfunction Among High-Risk Patients Undergoing Major Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 Oct 10;318(14):1346-1357. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.14172.
• Background Pancaro C, Shah N, Pasma W, Saager L, Cassidy R, van Klei W, Kooij F, Vittali D, Hollmann MW, Kheterpal S, Lirk P. Risk of Major Complications After Perioperative Norepinephrine Infusion Through Peripheral Intravenous Lines in a Multicenter Study. Anesth Analg. 2020 Oct;131(4):1060-1065. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004445.
• Background Prowle JR, Forni LG, Bell M, Chew MS, Edwards M, Grams ME, Grocott MPW, Liu KD, McIlroy D, Murray PT, Ostermann M, Zarbock A, Bagshaw SM, Bartz R, Bell S, Bihorac A, Gan TJ, Hobson CE, Joannidis M, Koyner JL, Levett DZH, Mehta RL, Miller TE, Mythen MG, Nadim MK, Pearse RM, Rimmele T, Ronco C, Shaw AD, Kellum JA. Postoperative acute kidney injury in adult non-cardiac surgery: joint consensus report of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative and PeriOperative Quality Initiative. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2021 Sep;17(9):605-618. doi: 10.1038/s41581-021-00418-2. Epub 2021 May 11.
• Background Mets B. Should Norepinephrine, Rather than Phenylephrine, Be Considered the Primary Vasopressor in Anesthetic Practice? Anesth Analg. 2016 May;122(5):1707-14. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001239. No abstract available.
• Background Legrand M, Zarbock A. Ten tips to optimize vasopressors use in the critically ill patient with hypotension. Intensive Care Med. 2022 Jun;48(6):736-739. doi: 10.1007/s00134-022-06708-y. Epub 2022 May 3. No abstract available.
• Background Mathis MR, Naik BI, Freundlich RE, Shanks AM, Heung M, Kim M, Burns ML, Colquhoun DA, Rangrass G, Janda A, Engoren MC, Saager L, Tremper KK, Kheterpal S, Aziz MF, Coffman T, Durieux ME, Levy WJ, Schonberger RB, Soto R, Wilczak J, Berman MF, Berris J, Biggs DA, Coles P, Craft RM, Cummings KC, Ellis TA 2nd, Fleishut PM, Helsten DL, Jameson LC, van Klei WA, Kooij F, LaGorio J, Lins S, Miller SA, Molina S, Nair B, Paganelli WC, Peterson W, Tom S, Wanderer JP, Wedeven C; Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group Investigators. Preoperative Risk and the Association between Hypotension and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury. Anesthesiology. 2020 Mar;132(3):461-475. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000003063.
• Background Salmasi V, Maheshwari K, Yang D, Mascha EJ, Singh A, Sessler DI, Kurz A. Relationship between Intraoperative Hypotension, Defined by Either Reduction from Baseline or Absolute Thresholds, and Acute Kidney and Myocardial Injury after Noncardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Anesthesiology. 2017 Jan;126(1):47-65. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001432.
• Background Legrand M, Kothari R, Fong N, Palaniappa N, Boldt D, Chen LL, Kurien P, Gabel E, Sturgess-DaPrato J, Harhay MO, Pirracchio R, Bokoch MP; VEGA-1 trial investigators. Norepinephrine versus phenylephrine for treating hypotension during general anaesthesia in adult patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a multicentre, open-label, cluster-randomised, crossover, feasibility, and pilot trial. Br J Anaesth. 2023 May;130(5):519-527. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.02.004. Epub 2023 Mar 14.
• Joosten A, Chew MS, Futier E, Harrois A, Jacquet-Lagreze M, Legrand M, Messina A, Myles PS, Saugel B, Sessler DI, Veelo DP, Fellahi JL. Intraoperative blood pressure management in noncardiac surgery: a narrative review based on current evidence. Intensive Care Med. 2026 Mar;52(3):500-511. doi: 10.1007/s00134-026-08326-4. Epub 2026 Feb 17.

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