3. Functions of the Kidney
Elimination of waste products
Regulation of fluid balance
Regulation of blood minerals and acidity
Production of some hormones
Activating vitamin D
4. Definition
■ Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) – also called Acute
Renal Failure - occurs when your kidneys
suddenly become unable to filter waste
products from your blood.
■ When your kidneys lose their filtering ability,
dangerous levels of wastes and minerals may
accumulate leading to possibly serious
complications.
■ It develops rapidly, usually within a few days.
5. Clinical Presentation
Decreased urine volume*
Fluid retention*
Shortness of breath
Nausea & vomiting
Fatigue & weakness
Confusion
Seizures or coma in severe cases
Sometimes AKI causes no signs or symptoms
and is detected through laboratory tests done
for another reason.
6. Risks of developing AKI
■ Age 65 or over.
■ Long-term kidney problem.
■ Long-term disease, such as diabetes, heart
failure or liver disease.
■ Being dehydrated or unable to maintain your
fluid intake independently.
■ Severe infection.
■ Certain medicines, including non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or some
antibiotics and blood pressure medicines.
7. Causes of AKI
You have a condition that decrease blood flow
to your kidneys:
Fluid loss as in diarrhea or bleeding.
Your heart pumps out less blood than
normal.
Use of certain medicines that reduce blood
pressure or blood flow to the kidneys.
You experience direct damage to your
kidneys.
Your urinary tract is blocked at any level and
wastes can't leave your body through urine.
8. Complications of AKI
■ High levels of potassium in the blood, which
in severe cases, can lead to muscle weakness,
paralysis and heart rhythm problems.
■ Too much fluid in the body, which can cause
build-up of fluid in the legs or even in the
lungs.
■ Acidic blood, which can cause nausea,
vomiting, drowsiness and rapid breathing.
■ In severe prolonged cases, some people
develop a long-term kidney failure as a result
and termed Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
9. Treating AKI
It depends on dealing with the cause of your illness and how
severe it is.
You may need to:
■ Increase your intake of water and other fluids if you're
dehydrated.
■ Receive antibiotics if you have an infection.
■ Stop taking certain medicines (at least until the problem is
sorted).
■ Be admitted in hospital in some cases.
■ Insert a urinary catheter to drain the bladder if there's a
blockage.
In severe cases, dialysis may be needed.
Most people with AKI usually make a full recovery.
