Acute Renal Failure: Definition, Causes, Clinical features, Investigation, Nursing diagnosis, Nursing intervention, Management, Complication,

 

Acute Renal Failure

Content:

1.   Definition.

2.   Causes.

3.   Clinical features.

4.   Investigation.

5.   Nursing diagnosis.

6.   Nursing intervention.

7.   Management.

8.   Complication.

 

Definition of Acute Renal Failure:

 

 Acute renal failure refers to a sudden and usually reversible loss of renal function. Which develops over a period of days or weeks. An increase in plasma creatinine count to greater than 200 mol/L is often used as a biochemical definition.

 

 

Causes of Acute Renal Failure:

 

A.  Pre-renal causes:

1.   Reduction of circulatory blood volume (hypovolemia)

·      Hemorrhage

·      Severe burns

·      Crush injuries

·      Severe vomiting

·      Severe diarrhoea

2.   Reduction in cardiac output e.g. heart failure

3.   Reduction of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

·      Hypocalcaemia

·      Hepatorenal syndrome

 

B.  Renal causes:

1.   Glomerulonephritis

2.   Pyelonephritis

3.   Acute tubular necrosis

4.   Acute interstitial nephritis

5.   Intravascular coagulation

 

C.   Post-renal causes:

1.   Urinary tract obstruction:

·      Prostatic enlargement

·      Urethral stricture

·      Surgical accident.

2.   Bladder rupture or trauma.

 

Clinical features of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Little or no urine.

2.   Swelling, especially in legs and feet.

3.   Not feeling like eating.

4.   Nausea and vomiting.

5.   Feeling confused, anxious and restless or sleepy.

6.   Pain in the back just below the rib cage.

7.   Drowsiness, apathy-muscle twitching.

8.   Anaemia, pulmonary edema, oliguria.

9.   Shallow respiration.

10.           Loss skin elasticity.

 

Investigation of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Culture of mid-stream urine.

2.   Microscopic examination or cystometry of urine for white &red cells.

3.   Plasma urea, serum creatinine, serum electrolytes.

4.   Full blood count –TC, DC, Hb%, ESR.

5.   USG of kidney.

6.   Blood culture.

7.   urinalysis

 

Nursing diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Excess fluid volume.

2.   Imbalanced nutrition; less than body requirement.

3.   Risk for infection related to compromised immune response.

4.   Risk for injury related to decreased level of consciousness.

5.   Fatigue related to uremia, anaemia.

6.   Acute pain related to sodium depletion (reduction),uremia, muscle cramping.

7.   Ineffective coping related to situational crisis.

8.   Situational low self-esteem.

9.   Deficit knowledge etc.

 

Nursing intervention of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.

2.   Facilitating nutrition.

3.   Preventing infection and injury.

4.   Promoting comfort test and sleep.

5.   Facilitating coping with changes in life style and feeling regarding self.

6.   Patient and family education including :

7.   Relationships between symptoms and causes.

8.   Relationships among diet, fluid restriction medication and blood chemistry values.

9.   Preventive health care measures: oral hygiene, prevention of infection etc.

10.                Dietary regimen including fluid excess – accurate measurement of intake / output etc.

11.                Medications.

12.                Measures to control pruritus.

13.                Planning for follow –up care.

 

Management of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Correct hypovolaemia and optimize systemic haemodynamic status with inotropic drugs if necessary.

2.   Administer glucose and insulin to correct hyperkalaemia if K+ >6.5 mmol/L.

3.   Consider administering sodium bicarbonate (100 mmol) to correct acidosis if pH < 7.0 (>100 mmol/L).

4.   Discontinue potentially nephrotoxic drugs and reduce doses of therapeutic drugs according to level of renal function.

5.   Match fluid intake to urine output plus an additional 500 mL to cover insensible losses once patient is euvolaemic.

6.   Measure body weight on regular basis as a guide to fluid requirements.

7.   Ensure adequate nutritional support.

8.   Administer proton pump antagonists to reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

9.   Screen for inter-current infections and treat promptly if present

 

Complication of Acute Renal Failure:

 

1.   Oedema.

2.   Electrolytes imbalance.

3.   Acid base imbalance.

4.   Infection.

5.   Cardiac disorder.

6.   Hypertension.

7.   Bleeding manifestations.

 


 

 


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