Word parts
What it means
An older term for kidneys that have stopped working well. It can happen suddenly, now called acute kidney injuryuh-KYOOT KID-nee IN-juh-reeA sudden loss of kidney function over hours to days.Full entry , or slowly over months to years, called chronic kidney diseaseKRON-ik KID-nee dih-ZEEZKidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.Full entry ; "kidney failure" also names the last stage of chronic disease (stage 5), when dialysis or a transplant is needed. Waste such as creatinine and urea builds up, along with fluid, potassium and acid.
For the nurse
Watch urine output, daily weight, blood pressure, creatinine, BUN and potassium. Check every drug's dose against kidney function, and avoid drugs that harm the kidneys, such as NSAIDs, unless ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | insuficiencia renal |
|---|---|
| Also written | kidney failure |
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
dialysis
A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.
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.
acute kidney injury
A sudden loss of kidney function over hours to days.