preview

Acute Renal Failure Essay example

Good Essays

Acute renal failure, also known as acute kidney injury is described to be a rapid loss of

kidney function, or a rapid decline in renal filtration function. The first signs of acute renal

failure can be found by a rise in serum creatinine concentration or azotemia, which is a rise

in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Symptoms of acute renal failure may include,

little or no urine when urinating, swelling in the legs and feet, not feeling like eating,

nausea and vomiting, feeling confused, restless, sleepy or anxious, or pain in the back

below the rib cage.

The pathophysiology of acute renal failure is still uncertain though it is thought to be

caused by tubular necrosis and vasoconstriction. …show more content…

The third cause is the

postrenal, which is when there are obstructions in the urinary tract. This one affects the

normal flow of urine out of both kidneys from a blockage caused by kidney stones, a tumor,

an injury or from an enlarged prostate gland.

The diagnostic exams used to diagnose acute renal failure are the blood urea nitrogen

(BUN), the creatinine clearance, the serum creatinine, the serum potassium and the

urinalysis. Other tests to diagnose renal failure can include, an ultrasound to reveal any

obstruction to the kidneys, an imaging test which include CT scans or MRI to reveal a more

detailed image of the kidneys and other organs, a kidney biopsy where a small piece of

tissue can be removed and examined, or an x-ray to examine for pulmonary edema, fluid

retention in the lungs.

The first stage of renal failure is the acute renal failure stage, which is the crucial stage.

The patient must pay close attention to signs and symptoms in this stage. Signs may

include drowsiness, headache, and back pain, typically on the side also referred to as flank

pain. The second stage is the chronic renal failure, which is accompanied by feelings of

physical weakness, loss of appetite, generalized swelling and shortness of breath. The third

stage is end stage renal

Get Access