Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or a few days. AKI causes a build-up of waste products in your blood and makes it hard for your kidneys to keep the right balance of fluid in your body. AKI can also affect other organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs. Acute kidney injury is common in patients who are in the hospital, in intensive care units, and especially in older adults.
What are the signs and symptoms of acute kidney injury?
Signs and symptoms of acute kidney injury differ depending on the cause and may include:
Too little urine leaving the body
Swelling in legs, ankles, and around the eyes
Fatigue or tiredness
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Nausea
Seizures or coma in severe cases
Chest pain or pressure
In some cases, AKI causes no symptoms and is only found through other tests done by your healthcare provider.
What causes acute kidney injury?
Acute kidney injury can have many different causes. AKI can be caused by the following:
Decreased blood flow
Some diseases and conditions can slow blood flow to your kidneys and cause AKI.
These diseases and conditions include:
Low blood pressure (called “hypotension”) or shock
Blood or fluid loss (such as bleeding, or severe diarrhoea)
Heart attack, heart failure, and other conditions leading to decreased heart function
Organ failure (e.g., heart, liver).
In conclusion, the treatment of acute kidney injury treatment (AKI) at Swanand Kidney Clinic is focused on addressing the underlying causes and providing comprehensive care to support kidney recovery.
