Renal Failure: Intrarenal vs. Prerenal

Flashcards covering the mechanisms, causes, diagnostic indicators, and hemodynamic factors of intrarenal and prerenal kidney injuries.

Intrarenal (intrinsic)

A more serious kidney issue occurring inside the kidney itself (intrinsic).

ATN

An intrinsic renal condition requiring "attention immediate" (also known as intrinsic renal).

Causes of Intrarenal Injury

CT contrast dye (kills kidneys), autoimmune reactions (body attacks itself), infection, and long-term NSAIDs (Advil).

3 C's

A triad used to remember intrarenal injury: creatinine, critical, and clogging of the kidneys.

Creatinine Threshold (Bad)

A serum creatinine level over $1.3$, signaling a bad or critical condition.

Prerenal

Kidney impairment characterized by decreased oxygen and perfusion because oxygen cannot reach the kidneys.

Vessel Occlusion / Obstruction (Prerenal)

A blockage of blood flow that cuts off oxygen to the kidneys, caused by blood clots, emboli, a tumor, or low blood pressure.

Decreased Cardiac Output (Prerenal Mechanism)

Reduced blood pumped out of the heart and low volume, commonly caused by heart failure where the heart fails to pump.

Shock

Severely low blood pressure, characterized by a mean arterial pressure of $< 65\text{ MAP}$.