U4 O3 - Urogenital Emergencies Flashcards
What is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) – previously
acute renal failure?
A sudden and potentially reversible reduction in the
kidney function- with a sudden marked decrease in
glomerular filtration. From a severity perspective, IRIS
(2016) proposed a grading scheme (I- V) with grade V
having the poorest prognosis
What is Anuria** ?
Complete suppression of urine formation (depending on the source consulted this could be considered < 0.08 ml/kg/hr; < 0.5 mL/kg/hr)
What is azotaemia?
An abnormally high blood level of urea, creatinine and
other nitrogen containing compounds in the blood stream.
Can be pre-renal, renal or post-renal.
Azotaemia is not apparent until > 75% of the kidneys are non-functioning (Foster and Humm, 2018)
This does NOT always equal renal failure
What percentage of the kidney are not functioning if a patient is azotaemic?
Azotaemia is not apparent until > 75% of the kidneys are non-functioning
what is oliguria?
Reduced volume of urine production (depending on the source consulted this figure can vary but is generally
considered < 1.0 ml/kg/hr).
N.B. The actual volume of urine output that is considered oliguric depends on individual patient factors as well as the source consulted. Many sources state that oliguria is < 1.0 ml/kg/hr (IRIS, 2016). However, Foster and Humm (2018) state that oliguria is urine output < 2ml/kg/hr Matthews (2007) and Smarick (2009) define oliguria as being urine production of <0.27 ml/kg/hr. Both sources, however state that
normal urine output would be expected to be above 1ml/kg/hr for most patients.
What is pollakiuria?
Passing frequent small amounts of urine
What is polydipsia?
Increased drinking
What is polyuria?
Increased volume of urine production (> 2ml/kg/hr)
What is the glomerular filtration rate?
Total filtration rate of both kidneys
What is Pyelectasia?
Dilatation of the renal pelvis
What is renal replacement therapy?
The three types of dialysis that could be used for patients in renal failure (peritoneal dialysis, haemodialysis and continuous RRT. Suitable for patients with a reasonable chance of regaining renal function
What are the several variables when determining if a patient is oliguric?
However, it is situational there are several variables e.g. a neonate has poor concentrating power so urine output of ~ 2ml/kg/hr is more likely. Depending on therate of fluids being delivered and the reason for it, a patient receiving intravenous fluid therapy (IVFT), could, however, be considered relatively oliguric if the urine output was 1-2 ml/kg/hr- it should be higher if the patient is receiving adequate IVFT and the
kidneys are functioning correctly.
What are the varying degrees of severity of acute kidney injury?
There can be varying degrees of severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) depending on how many nephrons are damaged.
In its mildest form only a few nephrons will be damaged and there may be no obvious signs of a problem; however, if many nephrons are suddenly damaged and unable to function, the kidneys could acutely fail to function
What 4 recognised clinical phases are there with an acute kidney injury?
AKI has four recognised clinical phases-
the induction phase
where there is an initial nephrotoxic or ischaemic episode;
extension phase
if the induction phase is not recognised/ managed or the kidney damage is severe and there is ongoing inflammation, it progresses to the extension phase where further kidney damage occurs. Depending on the severity of the kidney injury and loss of function, the patient may not survive this or the next stage.
Maintenance phase
However, the next stage is the maintenance phase where following significant kidney damage, clinical signs e.g. oliguria and azotaemia become apparent. If the patient survives, this stage may last from days to weeks depending on the underlying cause.
Recovery phase
The final stage is the recovery phase where the damaged kidney tissues repair and regenerate.
Describe the induction phase with an acute kidney injury?
the induction phase where there is an initial nephrotoxic or ischaemic episode;
Describe the extension phase with an acute kidney injury?
if the induction phase is not recognised/ managed or the kidney damage is severe and there is ongoing inflammation, it progresses to the extension phase where further kidney damage occurs. Depending on the severity of the kidney injury and loss of function, the patient may not survive this or the next stage
Describe the maintenance phase with an acute kidney injury?
the next stage is the maintenance phase where following significant kidney damage, clinical signs e.g. oliguria and azotaemia become apparent. If the patient survives, this stage may last from days to weeks depending on the underlying cause.
Describe the maintenance phase with an acute kidney injury?
The final stage is the recovery phase where the damaged kidney tissues repair and regenerate.
What kidney functions are affected in acute kidney injury?
Acute kidney injury is a potentially very serious syndrome caused by the acute failure of haemodynamic, filtering and excretory functions of the kidneys
What can be the three causes of acute kidney injury?
The cause of AKI can be pre-renal, renal or post-renal in origin.
If severe enough, AKI leads to a build-up of what?
If severe enough, AKI leads to a build-up of toxins (azotaemia), altered acid- base balance and electrolyte
imbalance as filtration via the kidneys is compromised. It is essential to identify as soon as possible whether the patient has acute versus chronic renal failure - however ‘acute on chronic’ can occur.
How can pre-renal, renal or post-renal in a patient with acute kidney injury be significant at affecting the management and treatment of the patient?
Whether azotaemia is pre-renal, renal or post-renal is also very significant as this will affect the management and treatment of the patient i.e. a patient with pre-renal
azotaemia may have hypovolaemia or dehydration and will require intravenous fluid therapy; a patient with urinary tract obstruction will require the obstruction to be removed. On clinical examination, a patient with pre-renal azotaemia, will usually have a small bladder as less urine is being produced; if post-renal, the bladder may be large and distended if a urethral obstruction is present. N.B. great care is required when
assessing. However, if the bladder has ruptured e.g. RTA and the patient has a uroabdomen, then the bladder may not be palpable or will be very small. The results of other diagnostics can help to identify whether the cause of the azotaemia is prerenal, renal or post-renal (e.g. urethral obstruction/ rupture).
What will a urinalysis likely reveal on a patient with an acute kidney injury?
If pre-renal the SG is usually high (although not always depending on the underlying cause); if there is a
renal insult, there may be blood, protein and /or glucose on dipstick urinalysis and there may be abnormalities on examination of the urine sediment – e.g. bacteria, red blood cells, white blood cells, casts etc.
What will a ultrasound likely reveal on a patient with an acute kidney injury?
Diagnostic imaging e.g. ultrasound may demonstrate enlarged kidneys and abnormal renal architecture if there is kidney disease/ injury e.g. nephritis. In a patient, with a ruptured bladder, free fluid may be
apparent on point of care ultrasound (POCUS) examination; plain radiography may demonstrate radiopaque urethral calculi or an iodine positive contrast cystogram may confirm bladder rupture