In: Nursing
What is acute kidney injury ( AKI ) ?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) ,also known as acute renal failure (ARF) , is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or a few days. AKI causes a bulid - up of waste products in your blood and makes it hard for your kidneys to keep the right balance of fluid in your body .AKI can also affect other organs such as the brain ,heart ,and lungs.Acute kidney injury is common in patients who are in the hospital,in intensive care units ,and especially in older adults.
What causes acute kidney injury?
Acute kidney injury can have many different casuese .AKI can be caused by the following:
Decreased blood flow
Some diseases and conditions can slow blood flow to your kidneys and cause AKI .
. These diseases and conditions include :
. Low blood pressure ( called " hypotension ") or shock
. Blood or fluid loss ( such as bleeding , severe diarrhea )
. Heart attack ,heart failure ,and other conditions leading to decreased heart function
Direct Damage to the kidneys
Some diseases and conditions and damage your kidneys and lead to AKI .Some examples include :
. A type of savere ,life - threatening infection called " sepsis"
. A type of cancer called " multiple myeloma "
. A rare occasions that causes inflammation and scarring to your blood vessels, making them stiff ,weak ,and narrow ( called " vasculitis" )
What tests are done to find out if I have acute kidney injury?
Depending on the cause of your acute kidney injury ,your healthcare provider will run different tests if he or she suspects that your may have A KI . It is important that AKI is found as soon as possible because it can lead to chronic kidney disease ,or even kidney failure . It may also lead to heart disease or death .
The following tests may be done :
. Measuring urine output : your healthcare provider will track how much urine you pass each day to help find the cause of your AKI.
. Urine tests : your healthcare provider will look at your urine ( urinalysis ) to find signs of kidney failure
. Blood tests : blood tests will help find levels of creatinine ,urea nitrogen phosphorus and potassium should be done in addition to blood tests for protein in order to look at kidney function .
. GFR : your blood tests will also help find your GFR ( glomerular filtration rate ) to estimate the decrease in kidney function .