Bolus Injection Versus Infusion of Furosemide in Kidney Transplantation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Furosemide is commonly administered to increase the urinary output in patients with transplanted kidneys. This study compared the two administration routes of furosemide (bolus versus infusion) in kidney transplanted patients.
Fifty patients who had undergone kidney transplantation in 2015 in a hospital in Tabriz, Iran, were included in this clinical trial. They were divided into two groups: bolus (120 mg stat) and infusion (4 mg/minute) groups. The primary outcome was urine onset time. Secondary outcomes were urine output volume, vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate), and electrolyte level (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and potassium). After arterial and venous anastomoses, arterial clamp removal time and diuresis onset were recorded. Finally, the
urinary output volumes of both groups were measured with regular urine bags for an hour after anastomosis. Then it was repeated each three hours for 24 hours, and eventually two and three days thereafter. Finally, all data were statistically analyzed.
Around 72% of the patients were men (mean age of 37.15 ± 14.67 years). Urine output was higher in bolus group but it was not statistically significant. Diuresis duration was measured after arterial declamping and its averages were 5.41 ± 3.7 minutes and 9.36 ± 7.65 minutes in bolus and infusion groups, respectively (P = .040). Furosemide bolus injection and infusion had no significant effect on creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, sodium and potassium.
Furosemide bolus injection can reduce diuresis onset time compared to furosemide infusion.