Acute Kidney Failure

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is acute kidney failure?

• Acute kidney failure is also called acute renal failure or ARF. Acute kidney failure occurs when one or both of your kidneys suddenly stop working. It may take only a few hours or up to a few weeks for the kidneys to fail. Acute kidney failure can sometimes become a long term health problem which is called chronic kidney failure.
  
  
• The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that remove unwanted chemicals and waste from the blood. These wastes are turned into urine by the kidneys. The kidneys are in the back of the chest on both sides of the spine.

What causes acute kidney failure? Acute kidney failure usually occurs as a complication of the following illnesses or injuries:

• Diabetes: This illness occurs when your body has high blood glucose (sugar) levels. If glucose stays in your blood instead of breaking down, it can destroy your kidneys.
  
  
• Genetics: You have a greater chance of having acute renal failure if you have a parent or sibling with kidney disease.
  
  
• Hypertension: High blood pressure may damage the blood vessels of your kidneys.
  
  
• Long term medicine use or chemical exposure: You may have a higher risk of having acute renal failure if you have used aspirin and antibiotics for a long time. Dyes used in various x-rays may also increase your risk of ARF.
  
  
• Sepsis: This is a severe infection of the blood caused by germs, such as bacteria and viruses.
  
  
• Trauma: Shock and severe bleeding from surgery or injury can cause acute failure of kidney function.
  
  
• Drugs: A number of drugs can cause kidney damage, such as antibiotics gentamicin and streptomycin, and pain killers such as aspirin.
  
  
• Other health problems:
  
  
  • Dehydration (water loss) due to burns, severe vomiting (throwing up), or diarrhea (loose bowel movements).
    
    
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) due to surgery, heart failure, or hemorrhage (massive blood loss).
    
    
  • Liver diseases can cause changes in hormones that affect blood flow and blood pressure to the kidney.
    
    
  • Other kidney diseases, such as stones, repeated kidney infections, or cancer (tumor).
    
    
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus. This disease is also called SLE or lupus. Lupus causes inflammation in all organs of the body, including the kidneys.

What are the signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure? You may have any of the following:

• Decreased urine output. You may pass little to no urine. Your urine may be pink or reddish in color.
  
  
• Edema (puffiness or swelling) in the face, arms, legs, feet, or around your eyes.
  
  
• Flank pain. The flank area is on your back between the ribs and pelvis.
  
  
• High or low blood pressure.
  
  
• Poor appetite for food, nausea (upset stomach), or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Other signs and symptoms may occur if your kidney disease gets worse:
  
  
  • Bitter or metallic taste in mouth.
    
    
  • Dry, itchy, or easily bruised skin.
    
    
  • Fatigue or feeling tired and weak most of the time.
    
    
  • Seizures (convulsions) and loss of consciousness.
    
    
  • Trouble concentrating. You may also get drowsy.
    
    
  • Troubled breathing or shortness of breath.
    
    
  • Weight gain.

How is acute kidney failure diagnosed? You may have one or more of the following tests:

• Blood tests: Different blood tests will be done to help caregivers diagnose and treat ARF.
  
  
• Imaging tests: The following tests may be used to take pictures of your kidneys:
  
  
  • Computed axial tomography scan: This test is also called a CT or CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your kidneys.
    
    
  • Magnetic resonance imaging: Another name for this test is a MRI. During the MRI, computerized pictures are taken of your kidneys and other parts of your body using radio waves.
  
  
• Percutaneous kidney biopsy: A percutaneous kidney biopsy is when a very small piece of your kidney is taken out and tested. For this procedure, you will need to lie face-down and hold very still. You may get medicine to help you relax before the biopsy. You may also get medicine to make the area numb (lose feeling) before the needle is put in. Caregivers put a needle into your back and through to your kidney. The needle has a sharp edge that will cut out a tiny piece of your kidney. The needle may have to be put in two or more times. After the needle is taken out, a bandage will be put over the area.
  
  
• Renal ultrasound: This is a simple test using sound waves to look at your kidneys. Pictures of your kidneys show up on a TV-like screen. An ultrasound can show if you have a kidney stone, an abscess, or certain other problems.
  
  
• KUB x-ray: An x-ray machine takes pictures of your kidneys (K), ureters (U), and bladder (B). The ureters are tiny tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder. The bladder is where the urine is stored before leaving your body. Caregivers use these pictures to check for problems with your intestines , kidneys, or abdomen.
  
  
• Urine tests: Urine is usually collected over a 24-hour period and sent to a lab for tests.

How is acute kidney failure treated? Treatment of acute kidney failure depends upon the cause and extent of the failure. Kidney failure can be cured with proper and timely treatment.

• Medicines: You may have one or more of the following:
  
  
  • Anti-hypertensives: These medicines lower blood pressure.
    
    
  • Diuretics: These medicines are often called water pills. Diuretics help your body get rid of extra fluid (edema) in your legs and ankles. Extra fluid in your lungs or around your heart will also be decreased with this medicine. Diuretics may also decrease your blood pressure.
    
    
  • Steroids: This medicine group decreases inflammation (swelling) and pain.
  
  
• Other treatment options:
  
  
  • Dialysis: Dialysis is a treatment that cleans your blood of wastes when your kidneys no longer work well.
    
    
  • Kidney transplant: Surgery may be done to put a healthy kidney from another person into your body. The donated kidney does the work that your two failed kidneys used to do. Your diseased or injured kidneys will be removed during the transplant.
    
    
  • Surgery: You may need surgery if your kidney failure is caused by a blockage in your urinary system.

Where can I find support and more information? Accepting that you have acute kidney failure may be hard. You and those close to you may feel depressed, angry, sad, or scared. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, and friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have acute kidney failure and other kidney diseases. Ask your caregiver for the names and numbers of support groups near you. You may also want to contact the following organizations for more information:

• National Kidney Foundation
  30 East 33rd Street
  New York, NY 10016
  Phone: 1-212-889-2210
  Phone: 1-800-622-9010
  Web Address: http://www.kidney.org
  

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  Building 31, room 9A04 Center Drive, MSC 2560
  Bethesda, MD 208922560
  Web Address: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
  

• American Association of Kidney Patients
  3505 E. Frontage Rd, Suite 315
  Tampa, FL 33607-1796
  Phone: 1-800-749-2257
  Web Address: http://aakp.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page