N-acetylcysteine does not prevent renal dysfunction after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in high-risk patients may be associated with postoperative renal dysfunction. N-Acetylcysteine is a powerful antioxidant and has been used to prevent contrast-induced renal dysfunction. The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in preventing postoperative renal dysfunction following off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery was studied.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft. The study group (37 patients) received N-acetylcysteine in the perioperative period, whereas the control group (37 patients) did not. The data obtained were analysed using the independent sample t-test (Student's t-test) and χ-test.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the incidence of renal dysfunction between the two groups. Three patients (8.6%) in the N-acetylcysteine group and four (11.4%) in the control group developed renal dysfunction (P value was 1.00).


CONCLUSION
N-Acetylcysteine does not have any beneficial effect on renal function in high-risk patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft.