A study of the efficacy of furosemide as a prophylaxis of acute renal failure in coronary artery bypass grafting patients: A clinical trial

Background: renal failure is a frequent event after coronary artery bypass grafting (cabg).hemodynamic alterations during surgery as well as the underlying disease are the predisposingfactors. we aimed to study intermittent furosemide therapy in the prevention of renal failure inpatients undergoing cabg.methods: in a single-blind randomized controlled trial, 123 elective cabg patients, 18-75years, entered the study. clearance of creatinine, urea and water were measured. patients wererandomly assigned into three groups: furosemide in prime (0.3-0.4 mg/kg); intermittentfurosemide during cabg (0.2 mg/kg, if there was a decrease in urinary excretion) and control(no furosemide).results: there was a significant change in serum urea, sodium and fluid balance in“intermittent furosemide” group; other variables did not change significantly before or after theoperation. post-operative fluid balance was significantly higher in “intermittent furosemide”group (2573 ± 205 ml) compared to control (1574.0 ± 155.0 ml) (p < 0.010); also, fluid balancewas higher in “intermittent furosemide” group (2573 ± 205 ml) compared to “furosemide inprime” group (1935.0 ± 169.00 ml) (p < 0.010).conclusion: the study demonstrated no benefit from intermittent furosemide in electivecabg compared to furosemide in prime volume or even placebo.