However, an excessively low hematocrit on CPB is associated with increased adverse events and in-hospital deaths.1018 In patients undergoing isolated CABG, it has been reported that the mortality rate of patients with a single hemat- ocrit value 19% was twice that of those with a hematocrit of 25%.1019 On the basis of these data, a hematocrit 19% on CPB should be avoided. No drugs have been identified that prevent or alleviate CABG-associated AKI. N-acetylcysteine reduces proinflam- matory cytokine release, oxygen free radical generation, and reperfusion injury, but a review of 10 RCTs containing data from 1163 patients982 showed that it did not reduce the incidence of AKI and AKI dialysis.987 In several RCTs, atrial natriuretic peptide was shown to reduce peak postop- erative serum creatinine concentrations, increase urine out- put, and reduce the need for dialysis in individuals with normal renal function preoperatively, but it did not prevent AKI dialysis in patients with preexisting renal Fenoldopam, a selective dopamine D1 receptor agonist that causes vasodilatation and increases renal cortical and outer medullary blood flow, seems to exert protective renal effects in critically ill patients.994,995 A meta-analysis of the data from 1059 patients reported in 13 randomized and case-matched studies showed that fenoldopam exerts a beneficial effect on renal function. Compared with standard therapy, fenoldopam reduced the need for renal replacement therapy (5.7% versus lowered the peak value for serum creatinine concentration. Nevertheless, this beneficial effect was counterbalanced by an increased rate of hypotension and vasopressor require- P 0.008). Dopamine at low doses increases renal blood flow and blocks the tubular reabsorption of sodium. 