Acute Renal Failure
Monday, October 23, 2006

Your kidneys play a very important role in filtering waste and maintaining your body’s fluids. In today’s 60 Second Housecall, Dr. Ken Davis discusses what happens when your kidneys stop working effectively.

Acute renal failure means that your kidneys have suddenly stopped working. Normally, the kidneys filter waste and help balance water, salt and mineral levels in the blood. When your kidneys stop working, waste products, fluids and minerals build up in your body. This can cause life-threatening problems.

Your doctor will diagnose the problem that is causing your kidneys to fail.  The most common reasons for kidney failure include an obstruction of urine flow in the kidney or bladder; or damage to the kidney itself from medication, hypertension, diabetes, or other medical diseases.  At times, a biopsy of the kidney must be done to determine the cause of kidney failure.

To reverse the kidney failure, your physician may prescribe medicines to rid the body of excess fluid and to treat electrolyte imbalances.  You may need dialysis, which does the work of your kidneys until they recover. About half of people who develop acute renal failure recover.  Some will require chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.