Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) - prerenal, intrarenal and postrenal causes and pathophysiology

Armando Hasudungan
18 Jun 202016:02
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script provides an in-depth explanation of acute kidney injury (AKI), a rapid decline in kidney function that manifests through increased serum creatinine levels and potential urine output reduction. It outlines the kidney's structure and function, focusing on the nephrons' role in urine production through filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. AKI disrupts these functions, leading to fluid and electrolyte imbalances and the accumulation of waste products like nitrogen and creatinine. The causes of AKI are categorized into pre-renal (decreased perfusion to normal kidneys), intra-renal (intrinsic kidney disorders), and post-renal (obstruction in the urinary tract). The script also discusses the importance of diagnostic tests, such as blood and urine analysis, and imaging studies, and touches on management strategies, including fluid management, cessation of nephrotoxic agents, treatment of underlying causes, and in severe cases, dialysis. The summary emphasizes the complexity of AKI and the multifaceted approach required for its diagnosis and treatment.

Takeaways
  • 🔍 Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a rapid decrease in kidney function, indicated by an increase in serum creatinine levels and potentially reduced urine output.
  • 💧 The kidneys filter blood through the glomerulus and reabsorb necessary substances while secreting waste into the nephron tubules, resulting in urine.
  • 📉 AKI disrupts the four key functions of nephrons: filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion, leading to abnormal fluid and electrolyte balance.
  • 🚨 Clinical diagnosis of AKI is made when there is an abrupt increase in serum creatinine, which is a waste product from muscle metabolism and not reabsorbed by the tubules.
  • 🔁 Causes of AKI can be categorized into pre-renal (decreased perfusion to normal kidney), intra-renal (intrinsic kidney disease), and post-renal (obstruction along the urinary tract).
  • 🩸 Pre-renal AKI can result from hypovolemia, reduced cardiac output, or impaired renal autoregulation due to certain medications, and is often reversible if addressed promptly.
  • 💊 Intra-renal AKI can be due to glomerular nephritis, tubular disease (like acute tubular necrosis), interstitial disease, or vascular disease, and may require more complex treatment.
  • 🚫 Post-renal AKI, or post-obstructive AKI, is caused by obstructions such as renal stones, prostate issues, or cancers, which can lead to hydronephrosis and kidney damage.
  • 🧪 Diagnostic tests for AKI include blood tests (e.g., creatinine, urea, full blood count), urinalysis, urine microscopy, and imaging studies like renal ultrasound or CT KUB.
  • 🩹 Management of AKI depends on the cause and may involve fluid replacement, diuretics, discontinuation of nephrotoxic drugs, treatment of underlying infections, or addressing obstructions.
  • 🩺 Indications for acute dialysis in AKI include refractory acidosis, severe hyperkalemia, fluid overload, and uremic complications like pericarditis or bleeding, which can be remembered by the acronym AEIOU.
Q & A
  • What is acute kidney injury characterized by?

    -Acute kidney injury is characterized by a rapid decrease in kidney function, manifested by an increase in serum creatinine level with or without reduced urine output.

  • What is the role of the renal artery in kidney function?

    -The renal artery supplies blood to the kidneys. It branches to supply the functional units of the kidneys, called nephrons, and forms the glomerulus, which filters the blood into the nephron tubules.

  • How does the glomerulus contribute to urine formation?

    -The glomerulus filters the blood, creating a filtrate that enters the nephron tubules. Substances in the filtrate can be reabsorbed, and waste products can be secreted into the tubules, ultimately resulting in urine.

  • What are the four main functions of the nephrons in urine production?

    -The four main functions of the nephrons are filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. Filtration occurs in the glomerulus, reabsorption and secretion along the tubules, and excretion results in urine.

  • What is the clinical marker for acute kidney injury?

    -Acute kidney injury is clinically diagnosed when there is an abrupt increase in serum creatinine, which is a waste product from muscle metabolism and dietary meat intake.

  • How does acute kidney injury affect glomerular filtration?

    -Acute kidney injury results in reduced glomerular filtration due to factors such as decreased hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure), increased colloid osmotic pressure, or fluid pressure changes.

  • What are the three main types of causes for acute kidney injury?

    -The three main types of causes for acute kidney injury are pre-renal (decreased perfusion to the normal kidney), intra-renal (injury within the kidney's tissue), and post-renal (obstruction along the urinary tract).

  • What is the most common type of intra-renal acute kidney injury?

    -The most common type of intra-renal acute kidney injury is acute tubular necrosis, which is a result of prolonged ischemia.

  • How can non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) contribute to pre-renal acute kidney injury?

    -NSAIDs can cause vasoconstriction of the afferent arterioles, leading to reduced hydrostatic pressure and, consequently, reduced glomerular filtration.

  • What are some diagnostic tests used to evaluate acute kidney injury?

    -Diagnostic tests for acute kidney injury include blood tests (such as creatinine and urea levels), urinalysis, urine microscopy, urine culture sensitivity, renal ultrasound, and urine protein/creatinine and albumin ratio.

  • What does the acronym AEIOU stand for in the context of indications for acute dialysis in acute kidney injury?

    -The acronym AEIOU stands for Acidosis, Electrolyte imbalance, Intoxication, Overload (fluid), and Uremic complications, which are indications for acute dialysis in patients with acute kidney injury.

Outlines
00:00
😀 Understanding Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

This paragraph explains the basics of acute kidney injury (AKI), which is a rapid decline in kidney function. It details the anatomy of the kidneys and the nephrons, which are the functional units responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. The paragraph also describes the four main functions of nephrons: filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. AKI is characterized by a sudden decrease in glomerular filtration rate, leading to an imbalance in fluid and electrolytes, and an increase in waste products like nitrogen and creatinine in the blood. The causes of AKI are categorized into pre-renal (decreased blood flow to the kidneys), intra-renal (intrinsic kidney damage), and post-renal (obstruction in the urinary tract).

05:03
🏥 Causes and Mechanisms of AKI

The second paragraph delves into the causes and mechanisms of AKI. It discusses how the use of certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers, can contribute to AKI by affecting blood pressure and blood flow within the kidneys. The paragraph also explains how prolonged pre-renal AKI can lead to ischemic injury and intra-renal AKI. It outlines the different types of intra-renal AKI, including glomerular nephritis, tubular disease (with acute tubular necrosis being a common cause), interstitial disease, and vascular disease. The discussion includes how these conditions can lead to inflammation, leukocyte activation, and the formation of casts in the urinary system, which are visible through urine microscopy.

10:05
🧬 Pathophysiology and Diagnosis of AKI

This paragraph focuses on the pathophysiology of AKI and its diagnosis. It describes the inflammatory response that occurs in the kidneys due to injury, leading to leukocyte recruitment and further damage to the tubules and interstitial areas. The paragraph also highlights the importance of urine microscopy in identifying casts that indicate injury or infection. It outlines various diagnostic investigations for AKI, including blood tests (such as creatinine and urea levels), urinalysis, urine microscopy, culture sensitivity, and imaging techniques like renal ultrasound and CT KUB. The management of AKI is briefly mentioned, emphasizing the need to address the underlying cause and the potential need for dialysis in severe cases.

15:08
🩺 Management and Indications for Dialysis in AKI

The final paragraph discusses the management strategies for AKI and the specific indications for acute dialysis. It emphasizes the importance of correcting fluid overload, stopping nephrotoxic agents, and treating underlying causes. The paragraph also introduces the acronym AEIOU to remember the indications for acute dialysis: Acidosis (refractory), Electrolyte imbalance (specifically severe hyperkalemia), Intoxication (from certain substances), Overload (fluid), and Uremic complications (such as pericarditis and bleeding due to platelet dysfunction). The video concludes with a thank you note to the viewers.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Acute Kidney Injury refers to a sudden and often temporary loss of kidney function, characterized by an abrupt increase in serum creatinine levels and potentially a decrease in urine output. It is the main theme of the video, as it discusses the various causes, mechanisms, and treatments of AKI. For example, the video explains that AKI can result from pre-renal, intra-renal, and post-renal causes, each affecting the kidney function differently.
💡Glomerulus
The glomerulus is a network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron in the kidney, where blood is filtered. It plays a crucial role in the video's discussion of kidney function and AKI, as it is the site of initial blood filtration. The video mentions that filtration occurs in the glomerulus, leading to the formation of filtrate that then moves into the nephron tubules.
💡Nephrons
Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney that filter waste from the blood and produce urine. The video emphasizes the importance of nephrons in the context of AKI, explaining that these units are responsible for filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. An injury to the nephrons can disrupt these processes, leading to the clinical manifestations of AKI.
💡Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product that is typically eliminated from the body through the kidneys. In the context of the video, an increase in serum creatinine levels is used as a diagnostic marker for AKI. The video explains that creatinine is freely filtered by the glomerulus and not reabsorbed, so a buildup indicates reduced glomerular filtration rate.
💡Pre-Renal AKI
Pre-Renal AKI is a type of acute kidney injury caused by a decrease in blood flow to the kidneys, often due to conditions like hypovolemia, heart failure, or the use of certain medications. The video describes how pre-renal AKI can lead to reduced hydrostatic pressure and thus reduced glomerular filtration, which is reversible if addressed promptly.
💡Intra-Renal AKI
Intra-Renal AKI occurs due to damage within the kidney itself, such as glomerulonephritis, acute tubular necrosis, interstitial disease, or vascular disease. The video details how these conditions can disrupt the normal functioning of the nephrons, leading to inflammation, cell injury, and ultimately AKI. Intra-renal causes are significant as they directly affect the kidney tissue.
💡Post-Renal AKI
Post-Renal AKI, also known as post-obstructive AKI, is caused by obstruction along the urinary tract, which can result from renal stones, prostate enlargement, or cancers. The video explains that such obstructions can lead to a backup of urine and increased pressure, causing injury to the nephrons and an elevation in serum creatinine.
💡Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)
Acute Tubular Necrosis is a specific type of intra-renal AKI where the tubules of the nephrons are damaged, often due to prolonged ischemia. The video discusses ATN as a common cause of renal injury in hospitals, where the damaged tubular cells can form casts, indicating an inflammatory response and further injury to the kidney.
💡Dialysis
Dialysis is a medical treatment that replicates the function of the kidneys by removing waste products and excess fluids from the body. The video mentions dialysis as a treatment option for severe AKI when there is refractory acidosis, electrolyte imbalances, fluid overload, or uremic complications that cannot be managed by the body's own mechanisms.
💡Nephrotoxic
Nephrotoxic substances are those that can cause damage to the kidneys. The video lists several examples, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aminoglycosides, and contrast media, which can exacerbate AKI by directly injuring the tubules or the interstitial tissue of the kidney.
💡Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a routine test that examines the content of a urine sample to detect and monitor various diseases and conditions. The video describes urinalysis as an important diagnostic tool in AKI, where the presence of certain casts, red blood cells, or white blood cells can indicate kidney injury or infection.
Highlights

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a rapid decrease in kidney function, marked by an increase in serum creatinine levels and potentially reduced urine output.

The renal artery supplies the kidneys and branches to form the glomerulus, which filters the blood in the nephrons.

The process of urine formation involves filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion, with the glomerulus playing a key role in filtration.

Acute kidney injury disrupts the four functions of the nephrons, leading to an abnormal fluid and electrolyte balance.

Clinical diagnosis of AKI is confirmed by an abrupt increase in serum creatinine, which originates from the metabolism of creatine in skeletal muscle and dietary meat intake.

The causes of AKI can be classified into pre-renal, intra-renal, and post-renal, each with distinct mechanisms and contributing factors.

Pre-renal AKI is often due to decreased perfusion to the kidneys, such as from hypovolemia or reduced cardiac output.

Intra-renal AKI can result from glomerular nephritis, tubular disease, interstitial disease, or vascular disease, each affecting the kidney's function differently.

Post-renal AKI, or post-obstructive AKI, is caused by obstructions in the urinary tract, such as from renal stones or prostate enlargement.

Acute tubular necrosis is a common cause of intra-renal AKI, resulting from prolonged ischemia.

Nephrotoxic drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause vasoconstriction and reduce glomerular filtration rate.

Urinalysis and urine microscopy are crucial diagnostic tools for identifying the type and cause of AKI.

Management of AKI depends on the cause and may include fluid replacement, diuretics, cessation of nephrotoxic agents, and treatment of underlying conditions.

Indications for acute dialysis in AKI include refractory acidosis, severe hyperkalemia, uremic complications, and fluid overload.

The acronym AEIOU helps remember indications for acute dialysis: Acidosis, Electrolyte imbalance, Intoxication, Overload, and Uremic complications.

Prolonged pre-renal AKI can lead to ischemic injury and transition to intra-renal AKI, which may be irreversible.

Impaired renal autoregulation due to the use of certain medications can contribute to pre-renal AKI.

Inflammation and injury to the nephrons can result in the formation of casts, visible in urine microscopy, indicating specific types of kidney injury.

Transcripts
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