Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as acute renal failure, is an abrupt and usually reversible decrease in kidney function as determined by the glomerular filtration rate. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels may be within normal limits shortly after a kidney injury. A decrease in urine production may be the only indicator of acute renal damage. Water, salts, and other metabolic products can build up in the body as a result of AKI. It can also cause a variety of electrolyte imbalances. It's a prevalent disease, particularly among hospitalized patients. It can be found in as many as 7% of hospital admissions and 30% of ICU patients. There is no precise definition of AKI; nevertheless, various distinct criteria, such as RIFLE, Acute Kidney Injury Network, and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria, have been employed in scientific studies. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes is the latest and widely used of them.
AKI is defined as the occurrence of any of the following symptoms, according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes:
- Within 48 hours, serum creatinine levels rise by 0.3 mg/dL or more.
- Within the last seven days, serum creatinine increased to 1.5 times or more than baseline.
- For at least 6 hours, urine volume must be less than 0.5 mL/kg/h (oliguria).
The following are the three general categories of AKI: