Acute kidney failure or acute kidney injury is a condition when the kidneys stop functioning suddenly. This condition can be caused by impaired blood flow to the kidneys, kidney disorders, or problems with blockages in the urinary tract.
Kidneys are organs that have the main function of filtering metabolic waste from the blood and removing it through urine. If this function stops, the waste that should be removed actually accumulates in the body.
Kidney damage in acute kidney failure can occur suddenly. This condition can endanger the life of the sufferer. However, if detected and treated quickly and appropriately, kidney damage from acute kidney failure can be cured.
Causes of Acute Kidney Failure The
causes of acute kidney failure are very diverse, ranging from impaired blood flow to the kidneys (prerenal), damage to the kidneys themselves, or blockages in the flow of urine (postrenal). The following is an explanation:
Impaired blood flow to the kidneys
There are several diseases and conditions that can block blood flow to the kidneys and lead to kidney failure, namely:
- Blood or fluid loss due to bleeding, dehydration severe, or diarrhea severe
- Surgery
- Sepsis or anaphylaxis
- Liver disease, such as cirrhosis Liver
- Heart disease, such as heart failureheart orattack
- burns Severe
- Take medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or antihypertensive drugs
Damage to the kidneys
Acute kidney failure can also result from injury or damage to the kidneys themselves, for example from:
- Glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the filters in the kidneys
- Rhabdomyolysis or damage to muscle tissue
- Cholesterol buildup that blocks blood flow to the kidneys
- Blood clots in the veins and arteries of the kidneys
- Scleroderma, a group of diseases that affect the skin and connective tissue
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a disease caused by blood cells broken red then fast
- Tumor lysis syndrome, which is the destruction of tumor cells resulting in the release of toxins that cause kidney damage
- Use of drugs, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hypertension drugs (such as ACE inhibitors or diuretics) and chemotherapy drugs
- Use of contrast fluid, which is the fluid used for X-rays or CT scans.
- Severe infections, such as Weil's disease due to leptospirosis
- Exposure to toxins, alcohol, cocaine, or heavy metals
Blockage in the urinary tract Obstruction of the urinary
tract, including the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, or urethra, will cause fluid to return to the kidneys. This condition will damage the kidneys and can cause acute kidney failure. Some diseases that can block the urinary tract are:
- Kidney stones
- Tumors in the urinary tract, kidneys, or organs around the kidneys
- Enlarged prostate
- Structure or connective tissue in the urinary tract
- Damage to the nerves of the bladder (of the urinary tractneurogenic bladder)
- Side effects of surgery on the pelvis
- Thrombosisveins renal
- risk factors for Acute renal failure
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing kidney failure, namely:
- Aged 65 years and above
- currently undergoing chemotherapy or intensive care another
- Ever suffered from kidney failure prior
- Having a family history of kidney disease
- suffering from cancer or being undergoing cancer treatment
- Suffer from kidney disease or have had kidney failure in the past
- Have diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, liver disease, peripheral artery disease or obesity
Symptoms of Acute Kidney Failure
Symptoms of acute kidney failure can appear within days or even hours after the kidney disorder t happened. Symptoms include: Decreased
- amount and frequency of urine
- Swelling in the legs due to accumulation of fluid
- Body easily tired
- Shortness of breath
- Heart rhythm disturbances
- Pain or a feeling of pressure in the chest
- Bad breath
- A rash or itching on the skin
- Decreased appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Pain in the stomach and throat back
- Pain or swelling in the joints
- Tremors in the hands
- Seizures
- Coma
When to see a doctor Go
to the emergency room immediately if you experience symptoms of acute kidney failure, especially if you have had kidney failure or have a family history of kidney disease.
Check with your doctor regularly if you suffer from chronic diseases that can cause acute kidney failure, such as hypertension and diabetes.
To prevent the occurrence of acute kidney failure due to the use of drugs, do not take drugs carelessly and always follow the rules given by the doctor.
Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Failure The
doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced and the patient's medical history, then proceed with a physical examination. Next, the doctor will conduct investigations include:
Blood teststo measure levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen will increase in acute renal failure, as well as to measure GFR(glomerularfiltrationrate)in order to assess the severity of acute renal failure
urinetest,for measuring electrolyte levels in urine and measuring the volume of urine that comes out
Scanning with ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, to see the condition of the kidneys and detect the presence or absence of tumors or blockages in the urinary tract or blood vessels to the kidneys Kidney
biopsy , to detect abnormalities in kidney tissue
Treatment Acute Kidney Failure
Treatment of acute kidney failure aims to prevent complications and restore kidney function. Patients usually need to be hospitalized the length of which depends on how severe the condition is and how quickly the kidneys are able to recover.
The method of treatment of acute renal failure depends on the cause. Some of the treatment methods that can be given by doctors are:
- Dietary regulation, namely by limiting the consumption of foods high in salt and potassium during the kidney healing process
- Giving drugs, namely by giving drugs that can balance electrolyte levels in the blood, giving diuretic drugs to excrete excess fluids, antibiotics if kidney failure is caused by a bacterial infection
- Dialysis, which is a procedure performed when kidney damage is severe
Complications of Acute KidneyAcute
Failurekidney failure can lead to death and the following complications:
- Metabolic acidosis (increased levels of acid in the blood)
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Edema lung or fluid buildup in the lungs
- of heartdisease,such as heart failure, heart attacks, arrhythmia or cardiac arrest
- Disorders of the digestive system, including gastrointestinal bleeding,
- kidney damage is permanent
- hyperkalemia or high levels of potassium
- due to nerve disorders penu mpukan urea or uremia
How to prevent acute renal failure is to maintain healthy kidneys by taking several steps below:
- Eating healthy food
- Limiting salt intake
- Maintain weight badan ideal
- Controlling blood sugar levels
- Controlling blood pressure
- Drinking water in adequate levels
- Limit the consumption of pain medication
- Limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Quit smoking
- Manage stress properly
- Exercise regularly