by Savitsky D
(Renal Failure; Renal Insufficiency)

Definition

Kidney failure is when your kidneys don’t work as they should. There are two main types:

Waste and excess fluids are screened out in the kidneys and passed as urine. Filters in the kidneys help to control how much fluid and healthy elements like sodium leave the body. Kidney failure makes it hard for the body to keep fluids and other important elements in balance.

Anatomy of the Kidney
Glomerulonephritis
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Kidney failure is caused by injury to the filters and other areas of the kidneys. AKI is most often caused by trauma, infection, or a toxin that cause sudden injury. CKD is often caused by long term health problems. These problems cause wear and tear to kidneys over time. The two most common causes of CKD are:

  • Diabetes—harms the tiny tubules that filter blood
  • High blood pressure —harms the blood vessels

Other common causes:

Risk Factors

The risk of kidney failure is higher with:

Symptoms

Symptoms are usually not present in early stages. Later stages may cause:

  • Swelling in your feet and ankles
  • Puffiness around face
  • Itchy skin
  • Muscle cramps and twitches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Loss of hunger
  • Weight loss
  • Urinary problems
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling tired
  • Changes in mental state
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. Urine tests will be done to look for signs of kidney problems such as:

  • Blood
  • Certain proteins
  • Levels of other elements normally found in the blood

Blood tests will also be done to measure levels of some elements. Images of the kidney may be taken with:

Treatment

The goal of kidney failure treatment is to slow further damage. Treatment may also be needed to balance fluids and clean waste from the blood. AKI may only need short term support. The kidneys may recover enough fucntion once they recover from injury.

CKD may need more long term treatment.

Lifestyle Changes

Changes in day to day habits can ease stress on the kidneys. It may slow damage to kidneys. Steps may include:

  • Watching your intake of fluids
  • Making nutritional changes such as restricting protein, cholesterol, salt, or potassium
  • Being as active as you can be
  • Checking your weight daily to watch fluid levels
  • Checking your blood pressure at home
  • Changing how you use pain medicine
  • Following your care plan for diabetes or high blood pressure

Medicines

Medicines help manage:

  • The balance of salt, minerals, and fluids in your body
  • Blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Anemia

Your doctor may also change medicines you take if they harm your kidneys.

Dialysis

Dialysis takes over the work of the kidneys. You may need it for a short time while they heal. Some people need it for life. Others use it until a kidney transplant is ready.

There are 2 main types:

  • Hemodialysis —Blood with wastes is taken from the body and filtered through a machine. Clean blood is returned to the body.
  • —A cleansing fluid fills the space in the belly. Wastes are drawn from the blood into the fluid. The fluid then drains out of the body.

Kidney Transplant

A transplant may work for some people. A healthy kidney comes from a donor. It’s placed next to the existing kidney during surgery. The new kidney should work well enough for you to stop dialysis.

An effective transplant may depend on the cause of kidney damage and your overall health.

Prevention

To lower your chances of kidney problems:

  • Follow your care plans if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.
  • Don’t use medicines that cause harm to your kidneys. Your doctor will make changes as needed.
  • Use NSAIDs as advised.
  • Drink only in moderation. Moderation is 2 drinks a day or less for men or 1 drink a day or less for women.
  • If you’re at high risk for kidney problems, see your doctor as advised.

RESOURCES

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases  https//www.niddk.nih.gov 

National Kidney Foundation  https://www.kidney.org 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Health Canada  https://www.canada.ca 

The Kidney Foundation of Canada  https://www.kidney.ca 

References

Acute kidney injury. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:  http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T566508/Acute-kidney-injury  . Updated April 26, 2018. Accessed June 6, 2018.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:  http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115336/Chronic-kidney-disease-CKD-in-adults  . Updated March 27, 2018. Accessed June 6, 2018.

Gaitonde DY, Cook DL, Rivera IM. Chronic kidney disease: detection and evaluation. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(12):776-783.

Kidney failure. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure. Accessed June 6, 2018.

Snivel CS, Gutierrez C. Chronic kidney disease: prevention and treatment of common complications. Am Fam Physician. 2004;70(10):1921-1928.

Use of herbal supplements in chronic kidney disease. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/herbalsupp. Accessed June 6, 2018.

Your kidneys and how they work. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work. Updated March 2014. Accessed June 6, 2018.

1/4/2011 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance  http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T905401/Anemia-of-chronic-kidney-disease  : Deved V, Poyah P, James MT, et al. Ascorbic acid for anemia management in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2009;54(6):1089-1097.

10/10/2013 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance  http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T908720/Chronic-kidney-disease-mineral-and-bone-disorder-CKD-MBD  : Di lorio B, Molony D, Bell C, et al. Sevelamer versus calcium carbonate in incident hemodialysis patients: Results of an open-label 24-month randomized clinical trial. Am J Kidney Dis. 2013;62(4):771-778.

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