Acute Renal Failure

Carlos Miguel Santiago & Kim Airam San Antonio

1. Acute Renal Failure (Acute kidney injury)

- is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few
hours or a few days.
Signs & Symptoms
 Lack of energy and fatigue: This is the result of early dysfunction of the organs in your
body, which do not have the right concentration of electrolytes to function as they should.
 Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting: This feeling occurs because your digestive
system—which requires healthy digestive enzymes, muscles, and nerves to function
properly—can slow down and be unable to maintain normal activity if your kidney does
not properly regulate the substances in your body.
 Generalized muscle weakness: Your muscles require electrolytes to be able to
function. When you have renal failure, this causes muscle function to suffer.
 Rapid, slow or irregular heartbeats: Your heartbeat is controlled by your cardiac
(heart) muscles which rely on a number of important electrolytes to function properly.
Your body attempts to preserve heart function for as long as possible. If your body cannot
compensate for the effects of acute renal failure, your heart function can suffer,
producing irregular heart rhythms. This can ultimately result in a lack of adequate blood
supply throughout the body. 
 Confusion: A serious symptom of acute renal failure, confusion means that your brain is
not getting adequate blood supply. If you experience confusion as a result of acute renal
failure, you could quickly progress to a loss of consciousness or coma. 
 Loss of consciousness or coma: This symptom means that the brain is lacking adequate
blood supply and may result in permanent damage unless you get urgent medical care.

2. Causes of ARF (Acute Renal Failure)

 Autoimmune kidney diseases - Example; Lupus nephritis - a disorder in which the body's
immune system attacks the body's own cells and organs
 Certain Medications - Such as NSAIDS, Diuretics and Vasodilators
 Severe Dehydration - Can cause a buildup of wastes and acids in the body and it can clog the
kidneys with muscle proteins (myoglobin).
 Urinary Tract Obstruction - Bacteria that enter the urinary tract through the urethra can
multiply and travel to your kidneys.
 Acute Renal Failure
Carlos Miguel Santiago & Kim Airam San Antonio

3. Diagnostic Procedures for Acute Renal Failure

 Urinalysis - An analysis that includes various tests to examine the urine contents for any
abnormalities that indicate a disease condition or infection.
 Ultrasound - Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumors, abscesses, obstructions, fluid collection, and
infection within or around the kidneys.
 Biopsy - Obtaining a sample of tissue for laboratory analysis.
 Electrocardiogram - Measures electrical activity of the heart to detect cardiac problems.

4. Medical Management and Pharmacologic Intervention

 Intravenous (IV) fluids: When a low fluid volume is a reason for the acute renal failure,
providing the body with fluids can help restore fluid levels
 Electrolyte management: If your fluids and electrolytes are not within the optimal range, your
healthcare providers may give you electrolyte supplements or give you medications that can get
rid of some excess electrolytes.
 Stopping the use of toxins: If acute renal failure is caused by a medication or supplement, the
treatment should include stopping the medication.
 Dialysis: When toxins are not expected to be eliminated efficiently if you simply stop taking
them, treatment of acute renal failure requires ridding the body of the chemical as quickly as
possible.
 Sometimes dialysis is needed, a method through which a machine can do the work of the kidney
by removing toxins and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance.