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Kidney Failure, Acute
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Acute kidney failure (known medically as acute renal
failure) is a very dangerous illness. The kidneys filter waste
products from the blood and maintain the body's balance of
fluid and minerals, discarding the waste in the urine. If this
filtering process stops, poisons will build up in the blood.
The disease may begin quickly and go away after treatment, or
it may come and go repeatedly, creating a long-term
problem.
Causes
The kidneys can be disrupted by
blood infection, kidney injury, kidney stones, heart or liver
disease, some medicines, dehydration, or a blockage in the
arteries or veins that serve the kidneys.
Signs/Symptoms
Likely symptoms include reduced
urination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sleepiness,
irritability, and loss of appetite. In addition, your skin may
become dry and itchy, and bruise easily.
Care
You will need a stay in the
hospital for tests and treatment.
Risks
Acute renal failure can be fatal.
But prompt treatment lowers the risk of serious illness or
death.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following
procedures and equipment during your stay:
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your
arm.
-
Foley Catheter: This tube is threaded into your
bladder so care givers can take exact measurements of the
amount of urine your kidneys are
producing.
-
KUB (kidney-ureter-bladder)
X-ray: This is a picture of your kidneys and
ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to
your bladder. The doctor will use it to see if your kidneys
or tubes are blocked.
-
Renal Ultrasound: A painless test done while you are
lying down. A device that projects sound waves will be used
to build a picture of your kidneys on a TV-like
screen.
-
Dialysis ( die-AL-uh-sis): You may be hooked up to a
dialysis (""artificial kidney'') machine. Dialysis washes
your blood and removes extra water, chemicals, and waste
products.
-
Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or
from the bend in your elbow and sent to a laboratory for
testing.
-
IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine
or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to
it.
-
ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an
electrocardiograph (e-LEC-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The
patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or
a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen shows a
tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched for
signs of injury or damage due to the problem with your
kidneys.
-
Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this
time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell
your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the
nasal prongs bother you.
-
Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you
may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is
placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a
machine. It measures the oxygen in your
blood.
-
Strict Intake/Output: Your nurses will carefully
monitor the amount of liquid you are getting and how much
you are urinating.
-
Daily Weight: You will be weighed
daily.
-
Eating/Drinking: If you have been throwing up, your
stomach will need rest. Because you will not be able to eat
or drink until the vomiting has stopped, you will be fed
all the vitamins and liquids you need through an
IV.
-
Diet: When you are able to eat, your doctor may put
you on a special diet.
-
Activity: You may need to rest in bed until you are
feeling better.
-
Medicines: May be given in your IV, as a shot, or by
mouth. You may be given pain medication. If you have an
infection, you'll also receive
antibiotics.
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