Kidney Failure (Acute Kidney Injury, Chronic Kidney/Renal Disease)

Question 1

The 2 leading causes of kidney failure

Answer 1

• diabetes (35%)
• high blood pressure (16%)

Question 2

Acute Kidney Disease (AKD)

Answer 2

• Some kidney problems happen quickly, such as when an accident injures the kidneys
• Losing a lot of blood can cause sudden kidney failure
• Some drugs or poisons can make the kidneys stop working
• This sudden decline in kidney function is called acute kidney injury
• Acute Kidney injury may lead to permanent loss of kidney function- but if kidneys are not seriously damaged, acute kidney disease may be reversed

Question 3

common causes of AKD

Answer 3

• sudden injury to kidneys
• losing a lot of blood
• some drugs or poisons

Question 4

glomerular disease

Answer 4

• several types of kidney disease grouped together: autoimmune diseases, infection-related diseases and sclerotic diseases
• these diseases attach to the tiny blood vessels or glomeruli in kidney

Question 5

tx of glomerular disease

Answer 5

immunosuppressive drugs and steroids to reduce inflammation and proteinuria depending on the specific disease

Question 6

S/S of glomerular disease

Answer 6

proteinuria & hematuria

Question 7

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Answer 7

• gradual loss of kidney function
• may lead to permanent kidney failure
• also have higher risk of death from stroke or heart attack

Question 8

Inherited and Congenital Kidney Diseases

Answer 8

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), is a genetic disorder in which many cysts grown in the kidneys
• The cysts can slowly replace much of the mass of the kidneys, reducing kidney function and leading to kidney failure
• Some hereditary kidney diseases may not be detected until adulthood

Question 9

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Answer 9

• total or nearly total and permanent kidney failure
• must undergo dialysis or transplantation to stay alive

Question 10

signs of chronic kidney disease

Answer 10

• early stages usually do not feel sick
• need to urinate more often or less often
• tired
• lose appetite or experience nausea/vomiting
• edema in hands and feet
• feel itchy or numb
• drowsy or difficulty concentrating
• darkened skin
• muscle cramps

Question 11

medical tests to detect kidney disease

Answer 11

• often through routine blood and urine tests
• 3 tests to screen: BP, urine test for protein & or albumin, calcification of GFR based on serum creatinine measurement
• measuring urea in blood provides additional info
• kidney imaging
• kidney biopsy

Question 12

4 common causes of chronic kidney disease

Answer 12

• nephrotoxins
• diabetes
• hypertension
• polycystic kidney disease

Question 13

common causes of acute renal failure

Answer 13

• hypovolemia
• hypotension
• trauma or injury
• infection/sepsis that reduces blood flow to the kidneys

Question 14

what is the primary nursing intervention when working with a patient with CKD

Answer 14

• full head to toe assessment (GU, Cardiac, Respiratory, integumentary)
• conservative care

Question 15

what are the goals of managing chronic kidney failure

Answer 15

• routine care
• prevention