Acute Kidney Failure

Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are suddenly not able to filter waste from the blood. Kidneys may fail due chronic kidney disease, infections, assaults, poisons, drug overdoses, certain medications, dehydration or acute bleeding disorders. Also known as acute renal failure or acute kidney injury, acute kidney failure occurs within a few days and can be life threatening as dangerous levels of wastes accumulate in the blood and throw the body off balance.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

  • Decreased amount of urination
  • Swelling in your legs, ankles or feet due to fluid retention
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Weakness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Chest pain or pressure

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What are the causes of acute kidney failure?

Acute kidney failure may occur suddenly due to direct damage or injury to the kidney, a blood condition in which the blood to the kidneys is affected or a blockage in the ureter preventing the waste to pass. Disease and conditions that can slow the blood flow to the kidneys and cause acute kidney failure also include:

  • Blood loss
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Heart attack
  • Heart disease
  • Infection
  • Severe dehydration
  • An allergic reaction

Damage to the kidneys can also be caused by other conditions but may not cause the kidneys to fail as suddenly but rather over a period of time. These include:

  • Blood clots in and around the kidney arteries and blood vessels
  • Blockages in the arteries due to cholesterol that prevent blood flow to the kidneys
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Hemolytic uremic syndrome
  • Lupus, an immune system disorder causing glomerulonephritis
  • Prolonged use of certain kinds of medication
  • Excessive ingestion of toxins, such as alcohol, heavy metals and cocaine
  • Muscle tissue breakdown
  • Breakdown of tumour cells leading to toxins being released

Because the kidney is vital for waste removal in the body, kidney disease may lead to permanent kidney damage or failure and may be life threatening in some cases. For this reason, it requires intensive and emergency treatment.

Treatment options

As a nephrologist, Dr Machailo’s goal is to preserve kidney functioning and restore the kidney back to health. While your kidneys heal, under hospital observation, he will prevent fluids from building up in the body by restricting what you eat and drink to reduce toxins. Antibiotics will be prescribed to treat or prevent any infections that may develop while your kidneys recover and diuretics may be given to aid fluid elimination. In addition, your calcium and insulin levels will be monitored to ensure your blood potassium levels remain stable. In some cases temporary dialysis may be needed to aid the filtration of wastes while your kidneys aren’t functioning at their best.

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