Acute Renal Injury Management

Acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute renal injury occurs when your kidneys fail or get damaged rapidly within a few hours or days. When your kidneys can filter waste out of your body no longer, these waste products may build up in your blood, causing fluid and chemical imbalances. This issue can be fatal, but you may be able to recover almost normal renal function if you are otherwise in good health.

Elevated BUN and Creatinine Levels

Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are waste products in your blood that your kidneys normally remove from the blood. However, poor kidney function can lead to a rise in the creatinine level and the BUN level, a condition called ‘azotemia’. Eating more protein can also cause your BUN levels to increase. High BUN and creatinine levels in your blood may indicate kidney damage.

Our Process

Seek emergency care or call us immediately if you are in Delaware and you are experiencing any symptoms of acute kidney injury. We, at Nephrology Consultants, P.A., work to prevent any complications from the condition until your kidneys heal. Our healthcare team suggests treatment options and diet changes to help support your kidneys and make it easier on them.

Diagnosis

Our doctors may recommend the following tests and procedures to confirm the diagnosis of acute kidney injury:

• Urine tests, including urinalysis and urine output measurements
• Imaging tests, such as computerized tomography and an ultrasound
• Blood tests to check whether your levels of creatinine and urea are rising rapidly
• Kidney biopsy to use a sample of your kidney tissue for lab testing

You may also require an azotemia blood test if:

• Our kidney care consultants suspect you have kidney damage or kidney disease
• You have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other chronic condition
• You are receiving dialysis

We may suggest getting your creatinine levels tested as well, to determine whether your kidneys are removing waste from your blood properly.

Disclaimer: Lab tests are not done in our clinic, but you can consult our nephrologists for your lab reports.

Treatment

Based on the cause of your acute kidney failure, your acute kidney injury treatment options may include:

• Intravenous fluids: These may be suggested if a lack of fluids in your blood causes acute kidney failure.
• Diuretics: If acute renal injury leads to too much body fluids, our doctors may recommend diuretics and other medications to expel the extra fluids.
• Calcium infusion: Your calcium levels may drop too low, prompting our nephrology associates to recommend an infusion of calcium.
• Medications controlling blood potassium: We may prescribe glucose, calcium or sodium polystyrene sulfonate to stop high potassium levels from accumulating in your blood.
• Temporary hemodialysis: You may need dialysis to remove toxins, excess potassium, and excess fluids from your body.

Get the best treatment for acute renal injury at Nephrology Consultants, P.A. We are present in various locations in Delaware.