What it means
A rapid drop in the kidneys' ability to filter the blood, so waste such as creatininekree-AT-uh-neenA waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.Full entry and blood urea nitrogenblud yoo-REE-uh NY-truh-jenA blood test that measures urea nitrogen, a waste product made when the body breaks down protein.Full entry builds up and fluid and electrolytes go out of balance. Causes are grouped by where the problem is: before the kidney (too little blood flow, as with dehydration, bleeding or shock), in the kidney (damage from drugs, contrast dye, infection or long low blood pressure), or after the kidney (a blockage to urine flow). It is defined by a rise in creatinine or a fall in urine outputYOOR-in OWT-putThe amount of urine a person passes over a set time, measured in milliliters.Full entry . It is often reversible if the cause is treated.
For the nurse
Track intake and outputIN-tayk and OWT-putThe measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.Full entry , daily weights, creatinine and potassium. Ask whether doses of kidney-cleared drugs should change, and avoid drugs that harm the kidneys, such as NSAIDs, when possible. Report a low urine output or a high potassium level at once.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | AKI; ARF (acute renal failure, the older name; ambiguous on its own) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | lesión renal aguda |
| Also written | AKI, acute renal failure |
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
renal
Relating to the kidneys.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
oliguria
Making less urine than normal, in an adult below about 400 mL a day.
urine output
The amount of urine a person passes over a set time, measured in milliliters.