To the Editor: —We read with interest the recently featured article “Predictors of Postoperative Acute Renal Failure after Noncardiac Surgery in Patients with Previously Normal Renal Function” by Kheterpal et al. 1in Anesthesiology. We congratulate the authors on this excellent article. The importance of alterations in renal function in the perioperative period is not widely recognized by anesthesiologists. Hence, we appreciate the contribution of the authors on this subject.
During our own work on renal function, we have noticed a recent change away from using the Cockroft and Gault formula for estimation of Creatinine Clearance toward using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula in view of the many drawbacks with the Cockroft and Gault formula.2,3,4,5We noted in the article significant findings related to renal function and obesity. These results may have looked different with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula with respect to the obese patients in their population.
We would be curious if the authors could comment on their choice of formula for estimation of creatinine clearance in their article.
*A I Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware. geneds@hotmail.com
