Final answer:
Acute kidney injury is a sudden loss of kidney function leading to a buildup of waste in the blood, oliguria, and electrolyte imbalances. It is diagnosed by elevated serum creatinine levels and may result from various pre-renal, renal, or post-renal factors. Treatment aims to restore normal kidney function and prevent permanent damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
During acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as acute renal failure, there is a sudden loss of kidney function. This condition is typically characterized by reduced urine output, known as oliguria. The kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood, leading to a buildup of toxic substances within the body. AKI may be precipitated by various factors including pre-renal causes like hypovolemia, renal causes such as damage to the kidneys themselves, and post-renal causes related to obstruction of urine flow.
Patients may experience symptoms such as fluid retention, electrolyte imbalances, and in the later stages, anemia. In terms of diagnosis, biochemically, AKI is often detected by an elevated serum creatinine level, a byproduct of muscle metabolism that the kidneys filter out of the blood.
Acute kidney injury requires immediate treatment to restore normal kidney function and prevent permanent damage. Treatment strategies typically focus on addressing the underlying cause and may involve fluid management, dialysis, or medication to support kidney function and prevent further harm.