Acute Kidney Injury
Overview of Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Failure or AKI develops when serious damage to the kidneys is done. It most commonly occurs in intensive care patients at the hospital.
Kidney diseases are an indication that kidneys are damaged and unable to perform their function. When kidneys are damaged they cannot filter their blood properly. Diabetic and hypertensive patients are at a greater risk for kidney disease.
AKI also known as Acute Kidney Injury (گردوں کی شدید ناکامی) happens when the kidneys stop working over a few days or a few hours. It is also termed acute kidney failure or acute renal failure.AKI is both fatal and reversible.
In AKI, kidneys are unable to filter waste products from the blood. This allows the waste materials to accumulate in the body at a dangerous level. This throws the chemical balance of the blood. AKI most commonly occurs in critically-ill patients.
Prevalence of AKI
AKI cases per annum are about 13.3 million globally. The incidence rate of AKI during hospitalization is 2.5 percent. In Pakistan, this incidence rate is 21 percent in critically ill patients after myocardial infarction. In Islamabad, this rate was found to be 68.55 percent with a mortality rate of 18.55 percent.
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury
Signs and symptoms of AKI include:
- Fluid retention, swelling in legs, feet, and ankles
- Decreased urine output
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- Seizures or coma (in case of severe AKI)
Types of Acute Kidney Injury
Causes of Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury is the indicator that kidneys are damaged suddenly. The cause of acute kidney injury is as follows:
- Injury to the kidneys
- Blockage in ureters
- Less blood flow through the kidneys
Less Blood Flow to the Kidneys
Less or impaired blood flow to the kidneys may be due to following:
- Blood loss
- Fluid loss
- Infection
- Blood pressure medications
- Use of blood thinners
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Dehydration (severe)
- Burns (severe)
- Anaphylaxis
Diseases & Conditions Causing AKI
Following are the diseases and conditions that can cause acute kidney failure:
- Inflammation of glomeruli
- Infection
- Medications
- Blood clots in the veins and arteries
- Lupus
- Scleroderma
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Heavy metals toxins
- Cocaine
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Tumor lysis syndrome
Other diseases that cause AKI by blocking the passage of urine out of the body include:
- Colon cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney stones
- Nerve damage in the bladder
- Enlarged prostate
- Blood clots in the urinary tract
Risk Factors of Acute Kidney Injury
Risk factors leading to acute kidney injury include:
- Advanced age
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Kidney diseases
- Cancers
- Heart diseases
- Critically ill and hospitalized
- Peripheral artery disease
Health Complications of AKI
Acute kidney failure can cause many health complications including:
- Chest pain
- Muscle weakness
- Pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs)
- Hyperkalemia
- Permanent kidney damage
- Eventual death
Risk factors leading to acute kidney injury include:
- Advanced age
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Kidney diseases
- Cancers
- Heart diseases
- Critically ill and hospitalized
- Peripheral artery disease
Health Complications of AKI
Acute kidney failure can cause many health complications including:
- Chest pain
- Muscle weakness
- Pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs)
- Hyperkalemia
- Permanent kidney damage
- Eventual death
Prevention
The preventive measure for acute kidney injury is that the person should avoid hypovolaemia as well as the use of nephrotoxic drugs. Make sure to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration.
Diagnosis
Various tests are recommended for a proper diagnosis, including:
- Urine output measurements
- Urine tests
- Urea and Creatinine blood tests
- GFR Test
- Imaging such as Ultrasound and CT scan
- Kidney tissue sample testing (kidney biopsy)
Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury | When to Consult a Doctor
Acute kidney injury cannot be treated at home. This requires hospitalization until the condition is stabilized.
The underlying cause or illness causing AKI is treated first, further treatment also depends on the cause. Treatment methods include:
-
IV Fluids
IV fluids are given to balance the dehydration and loss of fluid. In case, there is a fluid buildup diuretics are given to expel the extra fluids in the body.
-
Medications
In the case of hyperkalemia, medications to control potassium are given. A high level of potassium can cause irregular heartbeat and extreme muscle weakness.
Medications to reverse hypocalcemia are also given.
-
Hemodialysis
Dialysis is done temporarily until the kidneys can fully recover. Dialysis is done at least thrice a week. This removes the toxins buildup in the body and removes excess fluid allowing the kidneys to heal.
Since acute kidney injury is diagnosed when the kidneys are damaged, consulting a nephrologist becomes necessary.
Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Pakistan
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Lahore
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Karachi
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Islamabad
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Multan
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Rawalpindi
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Peshawar
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Faisalabad
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Hyderabad
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Swat
- Doctors to treat Acute Kidney Injury in Okara