Acute Kidney Failure

What is acute kidney failure?

Acute kidney failure is a condition that develops very rapidly. It happens when your kidneys suddenly lose their ability to filter waste from your blood, resulting in the buildup of various chemicals and waste products that could harm your health. 

Acute kidney failure often affects people who are already critically ill or in the hospital receiving intensive care. However, it’s important to become familiar with the signs and symptoms since it can potentially affect you at any time. In some cases, primary care physicians are the first to identify acute kidney failure through routine tests.  

Without intensive treatment, acute kidney failure is life-threatening. However, advanced treatment at Houston Kidney Specialists Center may be able to reverse the condition and protect you from its harmful complications. 

How can I tell if I have acute kidney failure?

For some, acute kidney failure causes very few or no signs and symptoms. However, you should seek care right away for possible acute kidney failure, if you experience:

• An irregular heartbeat
• Breathing problems
• Leg, ankle, or feet swelling
• Chest pain
• Decreased urination
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Hand tremor
• Bloody stool
• A decline in cognitive abilities
• Bruising

In very severe cases of acute kidney failure, you might have a seizure or fall into a coma. In any case, prompt care is vital to successful treatment.  

What are my treatment options for acute kidney failure?

If you have acute kidney failure, you’ll most likely have to stay in the hospital for a while as you undergo the initial treatment phases. If an underlying illness or injury to your kidneys is the cause of your acute kidney failure, treating it is essential to your acute kidney failure recovery. 

Even without treatment for a specific underlying condition, you’ll need to manage the complications from acute kidney failure to allow your kidneys to recover. These may involve:

Intravenous (IV) fluids

IV fluids may be necessary in acute kidney failure cases associated with a lack of fluids in your blood.

Medications

Various medications can help maintain a balance of nutrients and fluids in your body. The team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center might prescribe diuretics if your acute kidney failure causes fluid retention or requires medications to control your blood potassium or calcium. 

Dialysis

Dialysis is often a necessary part of treatment for kidney failure. Your blood pumps through a machine called a dialyzer several times a week, replicating the function of healthy kidneys.

If you have concerns about acute kidney failure, don’t hesitate to call Houston Kidney Specialists Center, or book an appointment online today.