This page was reviewed by the ERAS Cardiac Editorial Team and is provided for general education only. Always talk with your care team about your individual treatment plan and recovery needs.
Summary
After heart surgery, the kidneys work harder as the body heals. This temporary stress is common and may affect how well the kidneys function. This change is called acute kidney injury, or AKI. Not all care teams use the same approach to recovery, but teams who follow ERAS Cardiac principles consider early awareness and monitoring of kidney health an important part of enhanced recovery.
The information on this page is meant to build awareness and help patients understand why kidney health matters after surgery, as well as questions they may want to discuss with their care team.
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AI Assistance Statement
This summary was developed with assistance from artificial intelligence and reviewed, edited, and approved by the listed editor(s). Reference: OpenAI (2025). ChatGPT (November version) [Large language model].
https://chat.openai.com
ERAS Cardiac VEC Disclaimer
The Virtual Education Center (VEC) and all included content are provided for general education about enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery. The information has been reviewed by healthcare professionals but is not meant to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every patient’s situation is unique. Always talk with your own doctor or care team about what is best for you.
For questions or comments about the ERAS Cardiac VEC, please contact us.