Patient Information Leaflet. AKI Acute Kidney Injury.

What is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)?

Acute Kidney Injury or AKI is a sudden fall in kidney function as measured by blood tests and urine output, AKI is identified in the same way. Although named Acute Kidney Injury it is only very rare that the kidneys have been physically injured.

AKI used to be called 'acute renal failure' or 'acute kidney failure’. Up to one in five people admitted to hospital in UK have AKI. AKI can get better in a few days or weeks, but sometimes AKI can be life threatening. Early treatment is important.

AKI is not to be confused with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which is used to describe long-term kidney problems that occur either when the kidneys don’t work as well as normal. AKI can lead to CKD or worsen CKD in those that already have CKD.

What causes AKI?

AKI can be caused by a variety of individual factors or combination of them. AKI can be caused by dehydration, illnesses or infections, major surgery, trauma or by side effect of drugs. AKI may also be caused when flow of urine from kidneys through the ureters or bladder is blocked.

The elderly and patients with chronic kidney disease are particularly at risk of AKI. Patients with heart or liver failure are also at higher risk.

Where the kidneys are and what do they do?

Most people have two kidneys that lie on either side of the back bone just below the ribs. The kidneys make urine which is passed out via the ureter (tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) and bladder allowing removal of waste products that may be harmful to the body.

The kidneys have a key role in determining our water balance, by adjusting the amount of water we pass in the urine according to our levels of hydration.

KIDNEY IMAGE GOES HERE

The kidneys also process many medications whose levels in the blood can be affected when kidney function is reduced.

What are the symptoms of AKI?

You may not have any symptoms until kidney function deteriorates significantly.

AKI can however have the following symptoms: