What is Acute Kidney Injury or Failure?
Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology | August 1, 2023
Table Of Contents
What is Acute Kidney Injury or Failure?
Acute kidney injury occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to filter waste products out of the bloodstream. When the kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of waste might accumulate. Eventually, the chemical composition of blood might become out of balance and can affect other organs. This is why it is crucial to get the right acute kidney injury medication or acute renal failure treatment from professionals. Acute kidney injury is also known as Acute Kidney Failure or Acute Renal Failure. The condition can develop rapidly, usually within a span of only a few days. Acute renal failure turns out to be highly common in individuals who might be hospitalized, especially in critically ill patients requiring intensive care.
In some cases, acute renal failure can be fatal. Therefore, it requires intensive acute kidney failure treatment. At the same time, with the right acute kidney disease treatment, the condition can be made reversible.
Signs & Symptoms of Acute Renal Failure
Some of the common symptoms are:
- Nausea
- Fluid retention leading to swelling in the legs, feet, or ankles
- Decreased urine output
- Breathing difficulty
- Weakness
- Chest pain or pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Confusion or coma
Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury
If the signs and symptoms suggest that you have acute renal failure, your healthcare professional might suggest specific tests and diagnostic procedures to identify the cause and ensure appropriate acute kidney failure treatment. Some of the diagnostic procedures for the condition are:
- Blood Tests: A blood sample can help in revealing rising levels of creatinine, urea, and other substances used for evaluating kidney function.
- Urine Tests: Evaluating a sample of your urine can help in revealing several abnormalities suggesting the cause of kidney failure.
- Urine Output Measurements: Measuring the frequency of your urination in a span of 24 hours can help the doctor to diagnose acute renal failure.
- Imaging tests: These include ultrasound or computerized tomography These tests will help your doctor in understanding the cause of renal failure.
- Kidney Biopsy: In some cases, the healthcare professional might recommend conducting akidney biopsy, where a small portion of kidney tissue is sent for pathological testing.
What is Acute Kidney Injury Treatment?
Treatment for acute renal failure basically involves identifying the injury or illness that damaged your kidneys in the first place and then prescribe. The treatment options based on the underlying cause of kidney failure.
Some available options are:
- Treatment for Balancing the Amount of Fluids in the Blood If the acute kidney condition is due to a lack of fluids in the bloodstream, the doctor might go ahead and recommend the use of IV or Intravenous fluids. In some other cases, acute kidney disease might also lead to the accumulation of excess fluid, leading to swelling in the legs and arms. In such cases, the doctor might advise the use of medications to make your body get rid of extra fluids.
- Medications for Controlling Blood Potassium and Restoring Calcium Levels
- When your kidneys are not able to filter potassium effectively from the bloodstream, your doctor can prescribe medications to prevent the accumulation of higher levels of potassium in the bloodstream. Excessive potassium in the bloodstream can lead to dangerous irregular heartbeats and even muscle weakness.
- When the calcium levels in the bloodstream eventually drop too low, your doctor can recommend medications to improve involve blooding calcium.
- Dialysis for Removing Toxins from the Bloodstream, If toxins start building up in your blood, you might have to undergo the process of hemodialysis. It helps remove toxins and excessive fluids from the body while allowing your kidneys to heal.
Conclusion
With relevant support from leading healthcare professionals, it is recommended tounderstand the signs and symptoms acute kidney failure, get your condition checked in advance to diagnoseand get appropriate treatment right away.
