Acute renal failure after open heart surgery: prevention and management.

The frequency of acute renal failure (ARF) in the setting of open heart surgery is high, because the patients are frequently elderly, may have atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or previous renal disease. The appropriate preoperative patient preparation might be the first step treatment. The choice of renal support used in the care of ARF patients may influence the ultimate outcome, and therefore dialysis treatment must be tailored to each individual patient.