Final answer:
Renal dysfunction is a significant issue in critically ill patients, affecting a sizable proportion of them, with a high mortality rate. The d) effects on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life are profound, despite the availability of renal replacement therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In critically ill patients, renal dysfunction is a significant concern and affects a considerable number of these individuals. It is not a rare problem as some might expect; rather, acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) can occur frequently, especially in hospitals where 7-10 percent of all hospitalized patients can be affected. The mortality rate for these patients is considerably high, with 35-40 percent of affected inpatients succumbing to the condition.
Renal dysfunction has a profound effect on morbidity, mortality, and the quality of life of patients. The institution of renal replacement therapy (RRT), such as dialysis or kidney transplantation, is critical for survival in the case of severe renal failure, yet even with such interventions, patient outcomes can be significantly impacted. The most common causes leading to this condition are diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis.
An improved treatment approach involves the use of mesenchymal stem cells, which, in limited studies, showed a reduction in kidney damage post-surgery, decreased length of hospital stays, and reduced readmission rates, thus improving the overall outcomes for kidney injury patients.