Renal System Assessment Flashcards
What is the job of our renal system?
Homeostasis
What does Homeostasis of the renal system include?
F&E
Waste Removal
RBC hormones
BP hormones
Why should you check blood flow to the renal system? How would you check for this?
Blood flow to the renal system keeps organs perfused. If they are not perfused, it can cause issues within the renal artery such as stenosis, pelvic injury, or even infection.
Feel the pulse.
What is the end result of the RAAS system?
End result is increase in BP in response to a certain trigger
If someone over the age of 75 is having symptoms that appear as renal issues, what should you consider?
It can definitely be renal problems, but also consider that the elderly population’s organs do not function like they used to due to maturation and aging.
What is a probable reason older men have retention issues (meaning urine cannot pass, NOT that they are incontinent).
Prostate problems. If there are prostate issues, then the prostate can swell and block the urethra. This gives them the sensation they need to urinate but with very little output.
Why does blood flow to the renal system decrease with age?
Due to the renal artery becoming thicker which causes blood to not be able to flow as smooth.
Will the elderly have more or less nephron usage as they age?
Less due to the sheer amount of nephrons declining.
Why might elderly have incontinence issues?
Their bladder’s tone is reduced and it cannot hold as much as it used to. Their sphincter becomes altered too due to low estrogen. So, more urination occurs and they cannot control it.
What will happen to creatinine in elderly?
Decreased creatinine production due low muscle mass (but remember, their kidney clearance will be less so we don’t really know the creatinine trend for labs).
What will happen to vitamin D?
Vitamin D synthesis will be decreased.
Vit D and Vit C work together so this is not good for bone health.
3 Steps of assessment
1) check health hx & labs
2) OLD CART physical symptoms
3) look at family hx
Why do we ask about their BP in assessment?
If there are changes in BP, it is likely affecting kidneys.
Why do we ask about their dietary habits?
Dietary habits can contribute to loss of kidney function.
We should also ask about diabetes and if it is well controlled. Ask about Hypertension related to salt.
When asking for bathroom details, what are we looking for?
How often they use the bathroom?
What are the characteristics of urination?
Do they have issues leading up to bathroom or after going ?
