Question

A 54-year-old man is admitted to the critical care unit with acute kidney injury resulting from a bladder tumor. This would be classified as which type of acute kidney injury?

1) Prerenal
2) Intrarenal–medullary
3) Intrarenal–cortical
4) Postrenal

Answer 1

Acute kidney injury caused by a bladder tumor obstructing urine flow is classified as Postrenal AKI. This obstruction leads to backpressure that can damage the kidneys, necessitating treatment to alleviate the underlying cause.

Step-by-step explanation:

Acute Kidney Injury Classification

An acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from a bladder tumor causing an obstruction in the urinary tract would be classified as Postrenal. This type of AKI occurs when there is a blockage to the outflow of urine, which in this case is due to a bladder tumor. The obstruction leads to backpressure on the kidneys, which can cause kidney damage if not relieved. Since AKI can be divided into prerenal, intrarenal (involving the medulla or cortex), and postrenal causes, the correct classification for AKI due to a bladder tumor would be Postrenal. The aim of treatment for AKI is often to alleviate the underlying cause, which might include surgical removal or bypass of the tumor in this patient.