Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Sometimes acute renal failure goes unnoticed and is only discovered through laboratory tests ordered for another reason. Common symptoms for Acute kidney injury include :

•        Decreased pee production.
•        Fluid retention causes swelling in legs, ankles, or around the eyes.
•        Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath
•        Fatigue
•        Confusion
•        Nausea
•        Weakness
•        Abnormal heartbeat
•        Chest pressure or discomfort
•        Seizures, or in the worst circumstances, coma

Sometimes, acute kidney injury could develop into some serious complications including :

•       Excessive potassium levels in the blood can, in extreme situations, cause cardiac rhythm issues, paralysis, and muscle weakness.
•        Too much fluid in the body can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs or the limbs and legs (oedema) (pulmonary oedema)
•        Acidic blood, also known as metabolic acidosis, can make you feel sick to your stomach, lethargic, and out of breath.
•        Long-term kidney disease

Acute kidney injury must be addressed seriously, even if it does not lead to renal failure. If you have any of these symptoms visit a Nephrologist to be diagnosed and treated properly.

Reduced blood supply to the kidneys, typically in people who are already ill with another medical condition, is the primary factor in the majority of occurrences of Acute kidney injury. Causes of reduced blood flow to the kidneys :

•        Low blood volume due to heart failure, liver failure, or sepsis
•        Low blood volume following bleeding, extensive vomiting or diarrhea, or severe dehydration; the heart pumps out less blood than usual.
•        Certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, certain diuretics, or NSAIDs, that lower blood pressure or blood flow to the kidneys
•        An issue with the kidney itself, such as inflammation of the kidney's filters (glomerulonephritis), the blood arteries (vasculitis), or other structures (kidney structures), may also be the source of acute kidney injury. Causes for such direct injury include:
•  An adverse reaction to certain medications, illnesses, or the liquid dye used in certain kinds of X-rays.
•  Obstruction obstructs kidney drainage, including enlarged prostate, pelvic tumors including ovarian or bladder tumors, and kidney stones.

• The tests listed below can help in Acute kidney injury diagnosis and evaluation :
• Blood tests :
•  Kidney function studies
• Complete blood count
•  Peripheral smear
•  Serologic tests
•  Complement testing.
•  Fractional excretion of sodium and urea
•  Imaging Studies :
• Ultrasonography
• Aortorenal angiography
• Bladder pressure : Acute kidney injury brought on by abdominal compartment syndrome should be suspected in patients whose bladder pressure is greater than 25 mm Hg.
• Kidney biopsy

Hospitalization is typically needed while receiving treatment for Acute kidney injury. Management scheme for Acute kidney injury includes:

•        In case of dehydration: drinking more water and other liquids
•        In case of infections: antibiotics
•        Stop taking some medications (at least until the problem is sorted)
•       In case of blockage, a urinary catheter, a tiny tube, is used to evacuate the bladder.

Dialysis may be required in more severe situations to help replace renal function while kidneys are healing.

Your Nephrologist’s top priority is to address the underlying cause of your acute kidney injury. Up until your kidneys recover, your Nephrologist will work to address all of your symptoms and problems.