Acute Kidney Injury in the ICU

Question 1

Oliguria

Answer 1

Urine output < 0.5 mL/kg/hour

Question 2

Etiologies of a falsely low FE_Na

Answer 2

• Cirrhosis
• Heart failure
• Severe sepsis

Can lead to the diagnosis of pre-renal AKI when, in fact, the patient has an intrisic renal injury

Question 3

Etiologies of a falsely high FE_Na

Answer 3

• AKI on pre-existing kidney disease
• Diuretic therapy
• Glycosuria

Can lead to the diagnosis of intrinsic renal AKI when, in fact, the patient has pre-renal azotemia

Question 4

In the ICU, how do we obtain access for urgent renal replacement therapy?

Answer 4

Placement of a veno-venous catheter

Often this will be an IJ or femoral catheter.

Question 5

If you suspect intravascular volume depletion in the ICU, you should confirm this by. . .

Answer 5

. . . either central line CVP measurement or IVC compressibility-CVP via ultrasonography