2. Acute kidney injury
Acute renal failure (ARF)
Abrupt loss of Kidney function that develops within 7
days.
Increase in serum creatinine
AKI may lead to a number of complications,
metabolic acidosis
high potassium levels
Uremia
changes in body fluid balance
Effects on other organ systems
including death
People who have experienced AKI may have an
increased risk of chronic kidney disease in the future.
3. Diagnostic Approach
Time of onset – prior serum creatinine
Careful review of history and physical
exam
◦ Comorbidities
◦ Medications
◦ Current illness (vomiting, diarrhea, blood
loss, etc)
◦ BP, volume status, skin lesions,
flank/abdominal signs
4. Signs and symptoms
Accumulation of urea and other nitrogen-
containing substances in the bloodstream
lead to
Fatigue
loss of appetite
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Marked increases in the potassium level can
lead to irregularities in the heartbeat, which
can be severe and life-threatening
Fluid balance is frequently affected, though
blood pressure can be high, low or normal
11. Urine Output and AKI
Anuric
◦ < 100 cc / 24 hrs
Oliguric
◦ < 300 cc / 24 hrs
Non-olguric
◦ Normal urine output, but inadequate
clearance
◦ GFR 2 ml/min will produce ~3L of
urine/day if there is no tubular
reabsorption
12. Diagnosis
Clinical history
Urea and creatinine
Urine sediment analysis
renal ultrasound
renal biopsy
Indications for renal biopsy in the setting of
AKI include
Unexplained AKI, in a patient with two non-
obstructed normal sized kidneys
AKI in the presence of the nephritic syndrome
Systemic disease associated with AKI
Renal transplant dysfunction
13. Principles of AKI Management
Identify AKI
Avoid further nephrotoxic injury
Optimize renal hemodynamics
Treat complications
◦ Fluid balance, electrolytes, uremia
Nutritional support
Renal Support (RRT)
Monitoring after AKI
14. Treatment
Identification and treatment of the underlying cause.
(1) to prevent cardiovascular collapse and death
(2) to call for specialist advice.
In addition to treatment of the underlying disorder,
management of AKI routinely includes the avoidance of
substances that are toxic to the kidneys, called
nephrotoxins. These include NSAIDs such as ibuprofen,
iodinated contrasts such as those used for CT scans,
many antibiotics such as gentamicin, and a range of
other substances
Monitoring of renal function, by serial serum creatinine
measurements and monitoring of urine output, is
routinely performed. In the hospital, insertion of a
urinary catheter helps monitor urine output and relieves
possible bladder outlet obstruction, such as with an
enlarged prostate.
15. Specific therapies
In prerenal AKI without fluid overload
administration of intravenous fluids is typically the first step to
improve renal function.
Volume status may be monitored with the use of a central
venous catheter to avoid over- or under-replacement of fluid.
Should low blood pressure prove a persistent problem in the
fluid-replete patient, inotropes such as norepinephrine and
dobutamine may be given to improve cardiac output and
hence renal perfusion.
Intrinsic AKI require specific therapies.
If the cause is obstruction of the urinary tract, relief of the
obstruction (with a nephrostomy or urinary catheter) may be
necessary.
16. Renal replacement therapy
Renal replacement therapy such as
with
Hemodialysis
Peritoneal dialysis
CRRT