Background:
The aim of this study was to assess renal morbidity, associated with the use of low flow anaesthesia (LFA), in cancer patients previously treated with nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.

Methods:
Seventy-five patients, aged 30–70 years, scheduled for elective surgery, were randomly allocated to three groups: Group A included those patients who had received nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, methotrexate or cyclophosphamide) within 90 days before surgery, and who were anaesthetised with low flow (0.8–1 L min–1) air-oxygen-sevoflurane (1–3 MAC) anaesthesia; Group B included similar patients who received high flow (6 L min–1) anaesthesia. Non-cancer patients receiving low flow anaesthesia served as controls. Blood was sampled for serum creatinine, BUN, cistatin C, and electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl–, Ca2+, P3+, Mg2+) before anaesthesia, and one, three and five days after.

Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions:
The use of low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia is not associated with an increased risk of nephrotoxicity in those previously exposed to nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.