Editorial on: “Acute kidney injury after lung cancer surgery: incidence and clinical relevance, predictors, and role of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide”

Acute kidney injury (AKI) indicates a rapid deterioration in renal function, ranging from mild serum creatinine (sCr) elevation to the complete loss of renal function. It is a common complication in a variety of clinical settings, particularly in critically ill patients and after major surgery, and is more likely to be associated with increased postoperative morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospital stay (1-3). In addition, postoperative AKI has also been suspected of leading to reduced long-term survival (4,5).