Incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury in mechanically ventilated dogs and cats

Objective To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs and cats managed with mechanical ventilation (MV). Design Retrospective single-institution study (Jan 2015–Aug 2023). Setting University teaching hospital. Animals 96 animals, including 81 dogs and 15 cats, undergoing MV management. Measurements and main results The incidence of AKI in this animal cohort was 26% (25/96). There was no significant difference in AKI incidence between dogs and cats ( p > 0.99). The mortality rate of animals with AKI was 64% (16/25) while those without AKI was 50.7% (36/71) ( p = 0.35). AKI development was not significantly associated with the survival to discharge rate, while SpO 2 measured before ( p = 0.01) and after initiation of MV ( p = 0.0079) and duration of hospitalization ( p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with the survival to discharge rate. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age, baseline serum creatinine, congestive heart failure status, and duration of MV and hospitalization were not independently associated with AKI development. Conclusion AKI was common in animals managed with MV. However, the development of AKI was not significantly associated with the survival to discharge rate in this cohort.