What is Acute Kidney Failure?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Acute Kidney Failure?
Acute kidney failure is a condition that occurs when the kidneys stop functioning, or the process of blood purification is reduced. There is an accumulation of toxic substances in the blood in acute renal failure. This affects the chemical composition of the blood. In many people, if there is a problem of kidney failure due to kidney injury, it is necessary to get the patient admitted to the hospital and start treatment immediately.
The kidney is the third major organ of humans. Just as you take care of your heart, similarly it is very important to take care of the kidney. The main function of the kidney is filtering the waste out of your blood. The kidney also helps in removing the extra fluid from the blood in the form of urine. Kidneys also help in controlling the blood pressure and making the red blood cells. They help in regulating the electrolytes and activating vitamin D in the body.
If you experience any abnormality in the kidney, get treatment immediately. Because taking kidney problems lightly can prove dangerous for the body.
We will be discussing in detail acute kidney failure through this article.
- What are the different types of Kidney Failure?
- What are the causes of Acute Kidney Failure?
- What are the risk factors of Acute Kidney Failure?
- What are the symptoms of Acute Kidney Failure?
- How to diagnose Acute Kidney Failure?
- What is the treatment of Acute Kidney Failure?
- What are the complications of Acute Kidney Failure?
- How to prevent Acute Kidney Failure?
What are the different types of Kidney Failure?
There are mainly two types of kidney failure.
- Acute kidney failure: This type of kidney failure has a sudden onset, and lasts for a short period.
- Chronic kidney failure: This type of kidney failure occurs gradually, and lasts for a long time.
( Know more about- What is Acute Kidney Failure? )
What are the causes of Acute Kidney Failure?
Acute kidney failure can occur in the following conditions:
- Blood flow to the kidneys is impaired or stopped: This can occur due to the following conditions:
- Loss of blood
- Fluid loss
- Heart attack
- Blood pressure medications
( Know more about- What is Hypertension? )
- Infection
- Heart diseases
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- Liver failure
- Use of certain drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen sodium
- Severe burns
- Severe dehydration
- Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
( Know more about- What is Liver Transplant Surgery? )
Kidney damage: The conditions that may cause kidney damage include:
- Blood clot (a mass of blood) formation in the blood vessels around the kidneys
- Cholesterol deposits block the blood flow in the kidneys
( Know more about- What to eat to lower Cholesterol? )
- Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli or tiny filters present in the kidney)
- Infection, like COVID-19
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (a condition resulting from the premature destruction of the red blood cells)
- Lupus (a disorder caused by the immune system or disease-fighting system of the body), leading to glomerulonephritis
- Medications like antibiotics, dyes, and chemotherapy drugs used during diagnostic imaging tests (tests done to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body)
( Know more about- What is Chemotherapy? )
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (a rare type of blood disorder)
- Toxins, like cocaine, alcohol, or heavy metals
- Scleroderma (a group of diseases that affect the skin and connective tissues)
- Tumor lysis syndrome (break down of the tumor cells resulting in the release of toxins, causing a kidney injury)
- Rhabdomyolysis (Breakdown of the muscle tissue, causing kidney damage due to the release of toxins from muscle tissue destruction)
Blockage of urine in the kidneys: The various conditions that can block the passage of urine out of the body is known as:
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- Bladder cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colon cancer
( Know more about- What is Colon Cancer? )
-
- Blood clot formation in the urinary tract
- Kidney stones
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostate cancer
( Know more about- What is Prostate Cancer? )
- Nerve damage of the nerves that control the bladder
What are the risk factors of Acute Kidney Failure?
The risk of acute kidney failure increases in the following cases:
- Increase in age
- Hospitalized for a serious medical condition, that may require intensive care
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart failure (the heart fails to pump enough blood to the body)
- Liver diseases
( Know more about- What is Liver Cirrhosis? )
- Kidney diseases
- Certain types of cancers and their treatments
- Peripheral artery disease (blockages in the blood vessels in the legs or arms)
( Know more about- What is Kidney Transplant Surgery? )
There are many renowned doctors and hospitals in India where kidney transplant surgery is done with great expertise.
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What are the symptoms of Acute Kidney Failure?
The following symptoms can be seen in acute kidney failure:
- Feeling tired
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Chest pain
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- Difficulty in breathing
- Chest pressure
- Confusion
- Irregular heartbeat
- Decreased urinary output
- Retention of fluid
- Swelling in the ankles, legs, or feet
- Coma or seizures, in severe cases
If you are experiencing any symptoms of acute kidney failure, then contact a doctor.
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How to diagnose Acute Kidney Failure?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically, and note down your symptoms, medical history, and family history.
- Measurements of the urine output: Measuring the amount of urination in 24 hours can help a doctor in determining the cause of kidney failure.
- Urinalysis: Urine tests may reveal some abnormalities that could suggest kidney failure.
- Blood tests: A sample of the blood taken may reveal an increase in the levels of creatinine and urea, which are substances used for measuring kidney function.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests like ultrasounds and CT scans can help the doctor in obtaining clear images of the kidneys.
( Know more about- What is Cystoscopy? )
- Biopsy: The doctor may remove a small kidney tissue sample and send it to the laboratory for testing. A needle is inserted through the skin and into the kidney to obtain the tissue sample.
( Know more about- What is Kidney Stone? )
What is the treatment of Acute Kidney Failure?
In most cases of kidney failure, the patient is admitted to the hospital, although some patients may recover at home. The treatment of acute kidney failure includes:
- Treatment of the underlying cause of the kidney injury:
- The treatment of acute kidney failure involves the identification of the injury or illness that damaged the kidney.
- The treatment options depend on the cause of kidney failure.
Treatment of the complications until the kidneys recover:
- Treatment for balancing the number of fluids in the blood:
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- In case of an acute kidney failure that is caused due to a lack of fluids in the blood, the doctor may recommend intravenous (IV) fluids, which are directly injected into a vein of the body. The doctor also recommends an increased fluid intake.
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- In some cases, acute kidney failure may cause too many fluids in the body. This results in swelling of the legs and arms. In such cases, the doctor may recommend medications called diuretics, which cause your body to expel the extra fluids in the form of urine.
- Medications for restoring the blood calcium levels:
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- If the level of calcium in your body drops too low, the doctor may recommend an infusion of calcium.
- The doctor may also prescribe calcium supplements and advise you to eat calcium-rich food items.
- Medications for controlling the blood potassium:
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- If the kidneys are not filtering the potassium from your blood properly, the doctor may recommend glucose, calcium, or kionex (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) for preventing the accumulation of high potassium levels in the blood.
- Too much potassium in the blood can lead to muscular weakness and irregular heartbeat, known as arrhythmias.
- Dialysis for the removal of the toxins from the blood:
- In case of toxins buildup in the blood, you may require temporary dialysis to remove the toxins and excess fluids from the body while the kidneys heal.
- Dialysis may also help in the removal of the excess potassium from the body.
- In dialysis, a machine pumps the blood out of the body through a dialyzer (artificial kidney) that filters out the waste. The blood is then returned to the body.
( Know more about- What is Dialysis? )
What are the complications of Acute Kidney Failure?
The complications of acute kidney failure could include:
- The buildup of fluid in the lungs, causes shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Permanent damage to the kidney
- Muscle weakness
- Death
( Know more about- What is Pulmonary Embolism? )
How to prevent Acute Kidney Failure?
Some of the following steps can be taken to prevent kidney failure:
- Any medications that you take should be taken at the correct dosage and time, as prescribed by the doctor
- People suffering from conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure should avoid taking an overdose of medications
- Limit your consumption of alcohol
- Take a well-balanced diet that contains all the vitamins and nutrients that are essential for your body
- Limit the consumption of salt in your diet
- If you have kidney problems along with other diseases like blood pressure and diabetes, which may increase your risk of developing acute kidney failure, then you should follow the recommendations given by the doctor to manage the condition
- If you experience any kind of kidney problem, then contact the doctor without any delay
( Know more about- What are the Home Remedies for Kidney Cleansing? )
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding Acute Kidney Failure through this article.
If you need more information about acute kidney failure, you can contact a Nephrologist.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.