Acute Renal Failure and Acute Kidney Injury

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to acute renal failure and acute kidney injury, including key definitions and concepts.

Acute Renal Failure (ARF)

Condition characterized by a sudden loss of renal function, often indicated by a 50% increase in creatinine.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

A sudden decrease in kidney function, leading to the retention of waste products, changes in urine output, and electrolyte imbalances.

Oliguria

A reduced urine output defined as less than 400 ml per day.

Non-Oliguric ARF

A type of acute renal failure where urine output remains greater than 400 ml per day.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

A progressive loss of kidney function that occurs over an extended period, often unnoticed until significant damage has occurred.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

The final stage of chronic kidney disease, where kidneys can no longer function, requiring dialysis or transplantation.

Pre-renal causes of ARF

Factors leading to ARF due to decreased blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration, hypotension, or sepsis.

Intra-renal causes of ARF

Causes that directly damage kidney tissue, including toxins, drugs, or infections.

Post-renal causes of ARF

Obstruction and backflow damage after urine is produced, such as kidney stones or tumors.

Diuretic Phase

Stage of acute renal failure characterized by significant urine output increase as kidneys begin to recover.

Recovery Phase

Phase when glomerular filtration rate and kidney function progressively return to normal, potentially lasting weeks to a year.

Hemodialysis

A procedure to remove waste products from the blood in patients with kidney failure, often requiring the creation of a dialysis access site.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Dialysis method where a dialysate solution is inserted into the peritoneal cavity to filter wastes through a semi-permeable membrane.

Neurogenic Bladder

A bladder condition resulting from nervous system dysfunction, potentially causing urinary retention or incontinence.

Electrolyte Imbalances

Disruptions in the levels of electrolytes in the body, common in kidney failure.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

A waste product measured in blood that can indicate kidney function when elevated.

Creatinine

A waste product from muscle metabolism, commonly measured to assess kidney function.

Specific Gravity

A measure of urine concentration; low specific gravity indicates poor kidney concentrating ability.