Acute Kidney Injury

Throughout your lifetime you may experience a disorder that affects your kidneys.  There are several disorders that can affect your renal system and its ability to function which could include kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and many other conditions.  Our focus at this point will be on acute kidney injury.  The kidneys are the regulators in the body of fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte balance…and while regulating all of that they also work to eliminate wastes from the body. 

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the sudden cessation of renal function that happens when blood flow to the kidneys becomes interrupted and significantly compromised.  The signs and symptoms of AKI occur very abruptly, and this condition consists of four phases as described below.

·         Onset – As the name states, it begins at onset and will last hours to days.

·         Oliguria – This refers to a significant decrease in urine output.  This begins when there is insult to the kidneys; your urine output will only be 100 to 400 mL over 24 hours, even if you take diuretics, which you may know better as “water pills.”  This phase lasts for 1 to 3 weeks.

·         Diuresis – This means that you will begin to urinate in large amounts.  Begins when the kidneys start to recover.  Diuresis of a large amount will occur, and it can last for 2 to 6 weeks.

·         Recovery – This final phase continues until kidney function is fully restored, which can take up to 12 months.

There are also three different types of acute kidney injury, described as follows:

·         Prerenal acute kidney injury

o   Happens because of volume depletion in the body and a prolonged reduction of blood flow to the kidneys.  In more simple terms, this happens when there is a reduction of blood flow, meaning the kidneys are not able to function as efficiently as they could with normal blood flow.

o   If early intervention is carried out by restoring your fluid volume, AKI can be reversed to prevent more complications and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

·         Intrarenal acute kidney injury

o   This happens because there has been direct damage to your kidneys from a lack of oxygen.

o   Things such as physical trauma, a blood clot, use of antibiotics, or having an infection can cause this type of AKI.

·         Postrenal acute kidney injury

o   This happens when there is an obstruction of all the structures that are leaving the kidney, which includes things such as a kidney stone or a tumor.

Total Home Health has a program that you can completely relate to with all your renal questions and concerns during your time of treatment with us.  Conditions related to the kidneys can seem rather confusing, so our nursing professionals will be available to you as your educator, nurse, advocate and friend.  Once your provider determines which type of AKI you are experiencing, treatment measures will be started that will hopefully reverse your condition before it turns into something worse.  The goal of Total Home Health once you return to your home will be that of health promotion and disease prevention of acute kidney injury.  In this treatment regimen our nursing professionals will include:

·         Only if recommended by your doctor we will encourage you to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily if there are no restrictions on the amount of fluid you consume.

·         Promoting you to quit smoking, encouraging weight loss, providing education related to cautious use of NSAID medication (Aspirin, Ibuprofen), and providing education related to controlling other conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

·         Education related to taking antibiotics as prescribed if you have an infection.

Total Home Health professionals are ready to take part in your care related to your renal disorder.  Our goal is to manage it as effectively as possible so that you may continue your normal ways of life, and enjoy each moment with your loved ones.  Let’s get started, enroll today!