Compare and contrast prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal acute kidney injury (AKI), including causes and manifestations and outcomes

Question 1

Prerenal

Answer 1

· Most common cause of ARF (acute renal failure)
· Caused by impaired renal blood flow/massive trauma
· Blood flow changes/injury before it gets to the kidney—happening outside the kidney
o Sudden drop in BP, shock, sepsis, interruption occurring before the kidneys, hypoperfusion of the kidney (not enough blood flow)
· Causes: hypovolemia, hemorrhage, hypotension, shock

Question 2

Intrarenal

Answer 2

· S & S:
o Postischemic or nephrotoxic
o Oliguria- decreased urine
o Caused by lack of oxygen to the tissues. tissues inside the kidney are dying which results in damage to the inside of the kidney

Question 3

Postrenal

Answer 3

· Occurs with urinary tract obstructions that affect the kidneys bilaterally
· Sudden obstruction of urine flow located after the kidney due to things such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, bladder injuries or tumor
· Causes: urethral obstructions, edema, tumors, stones