Acute Kidney Injury Flashcards
What is AKI?
The syndrome arising from a rapidly falling GFR (drop in urine output)
What is AKI characterised by?
Retention of nitrogenous (urea and creatinine) and non-nitrogenous waste products, as well as disordered electrolytes
What are the 3 ways that AKI can be diagnosed?
1) Serum creatinine has increased by ≥26.5µmol/l in ≤48h
2) Serum creatinine has risen to ≥1.5-fold from baseline in the preceding 7 days
3) Urine output has been <0.5 ml/kg/h for 6 hours
How many stages of AKI are there?
3
What are the 3 diagnostic features of Stage 1 AKI?
1) Serum creatinine has increased by ≥26.5µmol/l in ≤48h
2) Serum creatinine has risen to ≥1.5-fold from baseline in the preceding 7 days
3) Urine output has been <0.5 ml/kg/h for 6 hours
What are the 2 diagnostic features of Stage 2 AKI?
1) Serum creatinine rises 2-2.9 times from baseline
2) Urine output has been <0.5 ml/kg/h for 12 hours
What are the 5 diagnostic features of Stage 3 AKI?
1) Serum creatinine rises ≥ 3 times from the baseline
2) Serum creatinine rises to ≥353.6µmol/l
3) RRT irrespective of serum creatinine
4) Urine output has been <0.3 ml/kg/h for ≥24h hours
5) Anuria for ≥12h
What diagnostic features are used in CKD but not AKI
Estimated GFR and proteinuria
Describe normal creatinine levels
- Normal range is 50-80
- However with lots of muscle mass can be higher e.g. 110 or if v thin 35 may be normal
- If don’t know their normal or don’t know if they already have CKD, assume it is abnormal and have AKI if not in the normal range
What are the proximal tubules v susceptible to and why?
Hypotension and hypoxia → they are very vascular and receive 80% of the renal blood flow
What are the 3 classifications of AKI causes?
1) Pre-renal
2) Intrinsic (renal)
3) Post-renal
What are pre-renal causes of AKI related to?
Reduced BP or volume
What are 3 types of pre-renal causes of AKI?
1) Volume depletion
2) Decreased effective volume
3) Altered intrarenal haemodynamics → NSAIDs or ACEi-A2RB induced
What are intrinsic causes of AKI related to?
Diseases that affect blood vessels, glomerulus, tubules and cells
What are 5 types of intrinsic causes of AKI?
1) Acute tubular necrosis
2) Acute glomerulonephritis
3) Acute interstitial nephritis → inflammation e.g. drugs/sarcoidosis/autoimmune disease
4) Vasculitis
5) Drugs → damage tubular cells
What are 6 types of post-renal causes of AKI?
1) Ureteric obstruction e.g. stone in ureter, pelvis, bladder
2) Bladder outflow obstruction
3) Prostate hypertrophy
4) Pregnancy (v gravid e.g. twins)
5) Extrinsic e.g. retroperitoneal haematoma
6) Urethro valve obstruction
What is the most common cause of post-renal AKI in men and why does it lead to AKI?
Prostate hypertrophy → prostate can herniate and block off connection between the bladder and urethra
What is the most common cause of post-renal AKI in children?
Urethro valve obstruction
Describe what happens in a ureteric obstruction
Urine isn’t flowing leading to back pressure on the glomerulus so the kidneys don’t work
What are the 7 functions of kidneys?
1) Excretion of electrolytes
2) Clearance of waste products
3) Gluconeogenesis
4) Production of hormones
5) Control of water balance
6) Regulation of acid-base status (produce and reabsorb bicarbonate)
7) Receptor site for hormones
For what hormones does the kidney act as a receptor site for?
ADH, aldosterone, ANP, PTH, renin
What are the 5 consequences of AKI?
1) Fluid overload
2) Hyperkalaemia
3) Metabolic acidosis
4) Uraemia
5) Organ cross-talk
Why does fluid overload/accumulation occur in AKI?
Bc not making enough urine
What does fluid overload lead to?
Peripheral and pulmonary oedema
What is the life-threatening complication of AKI linked to fluid overload?
Pulmonary oedema → can’t breathe
What are the effects of sacral and ankle oedema?
Might be more susceptible to skin break down and ulcers
What does hyperkalaemia affect?
Conduction of the heart and therefore the ECG (arrhythmia)
What is the normal serum potassium level?
Up to 4.5 (4-5.5) mmol/L
What is the first sign of hyperkalaemia on an ECG?
Peaked T waves after the QRS complex
What would you see on an ECG with a serum potassium of 5.5-6.5?
- Peaked T waves
- Prolonged PR segment
What would you see on an ECG with a serum potassium of 6.5-8?
- Loss of P waves
- Prolonged QRS complex
- ST segment elevation
- Ectopic beats and escape rhythms