What do Doctors call this Condition – Acute renal failure
What is this Condition?
Acute kidney failure is the sudden interruption of kidney function due to an obstruction, reduced circulation, or kidney disease. It’s usually reversible with medical treatment, but can be fatal without it.
What Causes it?
Doctors divide the causes of acute kidney failure into three groups, according to where the problem starts: prerenal, intrinsic, and postrenal.
Prerenal failure is caused by any condition (hypovolemia, shock, embolism, blood loss, infection, pooling of fluid in sores or burns, heart disorders) that reduces blood flow to the kidneys.
Intrinsic renal failure is caused by damage to the kidneys themselves, such as infections and blood clots. Postrenal failure is caused by any condition (kidney stones, blood clots, tumors, or swelling from catheterization) that blocks urine flow from both kidneys.
What are its Symptoms?
The most common early sign is greatly decreased urination. Electrolyte imbalance and other severe effects follow, as kidney dysfunction disrupts other body systems. Specific symptoms include:
• Digestive system: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, inflamed mouth, bleeding, dry mucous membranes, bad breath
• Central nervous system: headache, drowsiness, irritability, confusion, convulsions, coma
• Skin: dry skin, itchiness, paleness, bruises
• Heart and circulation: low blood pressure (early in the disease); later, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, fluid overload, congestive heart failure, swelling, anemia, altered blood clotting
• Breathing: fluid in the lungs.
Fever and chills indicate infection, a common complication.
How is it Diagnosed?
The doctor will ask about previous disorders that might cause kidney failure, then will order blood and urine tests to look for specific evidence. Other studies include ultrasound and X-ray studies of the kidneys, ureter, and bladder.
How is it Treated?
If you have acute kidney failure, the doctor will first start you on a diet high in calories and low in protein, sodium, and potassium, with supplemental vitamins and restricted fluids. The doctor will watch your body fluids carefully for an excessive amount of potassium, a condition called hyperkalemia. If hyperkalemia occurs, acute therapy may include dialysis, glucose and insulin infusions, and sodium bicarbonate – all administered intravenously – and Kayexalate, possibly by enema, to remove potassium from the body.
If these measures fail to control your symptoms, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis may be necessary