News

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) is known for its leadership in innovation and patient-centric care in the Manatee-Sarasota Region. LWRMC is the first medical center in the area to implement a new Kidney Care Program in the Cardiac Cath Lab. Patients requiring treatment in the Cardiac Cath Lab for heart disease are also being evaluated to determine if they are at risk for Chronic Kidney Disease. Additional specific steps are taken to ensure the patient’s kidneys are protected during the coronary procedure. 

Patients presenting to the Cardiac Cath Lab (Cath Lab) are here due to their heart issues, however 25 percent of these patients have Chronic Kidney Disease and are at high risk for an issue called Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). For patients with kidney disease and other risk factors, the contrast dye used for visualization during the coronary procedures in the Cath Lab can be difficult for the kidneys, and can cause complications and increased length of stay in the hospital.

Earlier this year, LWRMC implemented a new Kidney Care Program in the Cath Lab whereby patients with compromised kidney function are identified prior to their procedure and extra steps can be taken to protect their kidneys during the procedure, including:

• Screening patients for Chronic Kidney Disease and risk factors prior to their procedure
• Hydrating the patient pre and post procedure
• Use of a device to help divert the contrast, minimizing the amount of contrast delivered to the patient by up to 40 percent versus standard delivery

“We are pleased to offer patients the added comfort of knowing that when we treat their heart disease, we will also take additional steps to protect their kidney function if needed," said Vivek Kumar, MD, Interventional Cardiologist at LWRMC. "Our Kidney Care Program has been effective to date and is simple for us to implement in patients at risk for Acute Kidney Injury."