Acute Kidney Injury

Question 1

What is AKI caused by?

Answer 1

Reduced blood flow to the kidneys (mainly)
Usually occurs in someone who’s already unwell with another health condition

Question 2

What is the reduced blood flow in AKI caused by?

Answer 2

Low blood volume after bleeding
Excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
Severe dehydration

Question 3

What are the 5 stages of AKI?

Answer 3

1 - least concerning
2
3- serious
4 - indicates renal failure
5 - indicates renal failure

Question 4

What is the NICE guidance in managing AKI in relieving urological obstruction?

Answer 4

Refer all adults, children and young people with upper tract urological obstruction to a urologist
Refer immediately when one or more if the rolling is present:
-pyelonephritis
-obstructed solitary kidney
-bilateral upper urinary tract obstruction
-complications of AKI caused by urological obstruction
When nephrostomy or stenting is used to treat upper tract urological obstruction, carry it out as soon as possible and within 12 hours of diagnosis

Question 5

What is the pharmacological management for AKI?

Answer 5

Do not routinely loop diuretics to treat acute kidney injury
Consider loop diuretics for treating fluid overload or oedema while a patient is awaiting renal replacement therapy or renal function is recovering in patient not receiving renal replacement therapy
Do not offer low-dose dopamine to treat AKI.