Acute kidney injury

Question 1

Causes of AKI

Answer 1

Prerenal AKI
-decreased blood flow, less blood in glomerulus, lower GFR, activates renin angiotensin aldosterone system which causes more Na+, urea and water reabsorption
Intrarenal
-decrease blood flow to kidney cells, not enough oxygen so ischaemic then necrotic, dead cell matter blocks tubule, increasing pressure within tubule, decreasing GFR
Postrenal
-obstruction to outflow vessels due to kidney stones, abdo tumour, build up of urine, increase pressure within tubule, decrease GFR

Question 2

Symptoms of AKI

Answer 2

-early stage= no symptoms
-reduced urine output
-nausea and vomiting
-dehydration
-abdo pain/ mild back pain
-confusion
-hypertension
-oedema (pulmonary or peripheral)

Question 3

Risk factors

Answer 3

-age
-underlying renal disease
-diabetes
-dehydration
-HF
-sepsis
-urinary retention
-recent drug intake eg. ACE, NSAID’s

Question 4

Pathophysiology AKI

Answer 4

-due to impaired kidney perfusion
-kidneys react by re-absorbing more Na and water to increase BP