AKI and Renal Foundations

A collection of 25 vocabulary-style flashcards covering the foundations, causes, assessments, and management of acute kidney injury (AKI) from Adult Health II.

AKI
(Acute Kidney Injury)

Sudden decrease in kidney function, often reversible.

Prerenal AKI

Kidney dysfunction caused by reduced renal blood flow, such as dehydration, hemorrhage, or heart failure.

Intrarenal AKI

Kidney dysfunction caused by direct kidney tissue damage, often acute tubular necrosis.

Postrenal AKI

Kidney dysfunction caused by urinary outflow obstruction, such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or bilateral stones.

Acute tubular necrosis

Tubular cell injury or death due to ischemia or nephrotoxins.

Rhabdomyolysis-related AKI

Renal tubule injury caused by myoglobin released from muscle breakdown.

Laboratory trends suggesting AKI

Rising creatinine and BUN, often accompanied by reduced urine output.

Hyperkalemia

A common electrolyte emergency in AKI that can cause lethal dysrhythmias.

Fluid overload signs in AKI

Edema, crackles, dyspnea, hypertension, and weight gain.

Priority in hypovolemic prerenal AKI

Restore renal perfusion with appropriate fluid resuscitation.

Nursing monitoring parameters in AKI

Urine output, daily weight, fluid balance, potassium, creatinine, and ECG.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney containing the glomerulus and tubules.

Critical AKI finding requiring immediate action

Potassium elevation with ECG changes or life-threatening dysrhythmia.

Priority assessment in suspected AKI

Urine output, volume status, blood pressure, and serum potassium.

Oliguria in adults

Urine output of less than $0.5\,\text{mL/kg/hr}$ sustained for at least 6 hours.

Pathophysiologic development of prerenal AKI

Reduced kidney perfusion lowers filtration without initial tissue damage.

First focus for hypovolemic prerenal AKI

Restore circulating volume as ordered and monitor response.

Postrenal AKI causes

Urinary obstruction resulting from stones, enlarged prostate, or a blocked catheter.

Nursing intervention for a blocked urinary catheter

Assess for kinks or obstruction and follow catheter protocol.

Medications requiring review during AKI

NSAIDs, nephrotoxic antibiotics, and other renally cleared drugs.

Purpose of daily weights in AKI

To monitor fluid gain or loss more reliably than appearance.

Indicators of fluid overload in AKI

Crackles, edema, hypertension, rapid weight gain, and dyspnea.

Immediate concern with pulmonary edema

Impaired oxygenation, requiring breathing assessment and prompt escalation.

Evaluation criteria for AKI treatment effectiveness

Improving creatinine trend, urine output, potassium levels, and fluid balance.

Indications for dialysis in AKI

Refractory hyperkalemia, acidosis, fluid overload, or uremic complications.