ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
Protect your body, your health, and your future with superior inpatient and outpatient care from Kidney & Hypertension Associates.
Overview
WHAT IS ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is sometimes referred to as acute renal failure because it results from kidney damage that occurs within a few hours to a few days, leading to a sudden and serious loss of renal function. Patients with AKI often notice warning signs such as swelling, decreased urination, nausea, shortness of breath, and tiredness. However, a small percentage of patients may not show any obvious symptoms of acute kidney injury and only realize they have it when their healthcare provider is running other tests.
Help For Acute Kidney Injury
TREATMENT & PREVENTION WITH KHA
In most cases, patients with acute kidney injury will be hospitalized to closely monitor their kidney function and ensure that they are receiving the correct treatment. Because AKI can result from many possible causes, it's important to get as much information as possible about what may be happening inside your body. Doctors will likely check your blood and urine frequently to see how well your kidneys are functioning, and they may also want to perform other tests to get a closer look at your kidneys. The experts at KHA will work closely with your hospital-based team to find the best plan for treating your acute kidney injury at its source. After you're well enough to be discharged, we'll schedule regular follow-up visits at one of our Northshore renal care clinics to help you avoid future episodes of AKI and lower your risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Where It All Begins
CAUSES OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
Any condition that decreases blood flow to the kidneys or blocks the flow of urine can cause acute kidney injury. Other disorders may attack the kidneys directly and damage structures that allow them to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, leading to a loss of normal kidney function. These conditions can include severe infection, kidney stones, allergic reactions to a medication, autoimmune disease, heart attack or heart failure, burns, traumatic injuries, and a number of disorders that keep other organs in your body from functioning normally. Without prompt treatment, acute kidney injury can progress to chronic kidney disease or complete kidney failure. AKI can also interfere with proper function of your brain, heart, and lungs, potentially causing damage to those organs and worsening the strain on your kidneys.