Which blood‑pressure drug during major surgery better protects the kidneys
Official title: The choice of vasopressor to prevent postoperative acute kidney injury after major non-cardiac surgery: a multicenter pragmatic cluster cross-over randomized trial (the VEGA-2 trial)
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11176032 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares two common medicines given for low blood pressure during major non‑cardiac surgery to find which one best prevents sudden kidney injury in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $671,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139484-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176032 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (including older adults) undergoing major non‑cardiac surgery who may need intravenous vasopressors for low blood pressure during the operation are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People not having major non‑cardiac surgery, those who do not require intraoperative vasopressors, and children are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you are an adult having major non‑cardiac surgery, hospitals in this trial will use one of two commonly used blood‑pressure drugs when treating low blood pressure in the operating room. Hospitals take turns using norepinephrine or phenylephrine across different time periods so patients receive whichever drug is the hospital's current protocol. The trial is pragmatic and embedded in routine care across multiple centers, and researchers will track who develops postoperative acute kidney injury and related outcomes after surgery. Results will compare kidney outcomes and other complications between the two drugs to inform which choice is safer for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower the chance of developing acute kidney injury after major surgery and reduce related complications and hospital stays.
How similar studies have gone: Some smaller trials and observational studies have hinted at differences between these drugs for kidney outcomes, but large randomized evidence is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Legrand, Matthieu — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Legrand, Matthieu
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.