Treatment Considerations in Acute Renal Failure

Summary

Acute renal failure (ARF) is characterised by progressive azotaemia, and for therapeutic purposes consideration of prerenal, intrinsic renal and postrenal types still holds good.

Prerenal azotaemia is generally caused by loss of body fluids or blood, whereas postrenal azotaemia is effected by acute or chronic urinary tract obstruction. Provided these conditions are recognised on time and treated, they are reversible. However, delay in recognition or treatment could result in renal parenchymal damage and sustained ARF. Therefore utmost attention should be focused on identifying reversible factor(s) in the setting of ARF.

Once reversible factors have been excluded, and ARF becomes sustained, a diagnosis of acute intrinsic renal failure is almost certain. Lack of natriuretic and diuretic responses to fluid challenge or infusion of furosemide (frusemide) and dopamine are further indications of this possibility. Management of acute intrinsic renal failure essentially consists of dietary control and dialysis therapy. The latter facilitates fluid and electrolyte management, but does not reduce the overall mortality. The potential benefit of parenteral hyperalimentation to promote renal function recovery must be carefully weighed against the risk of severe infectious complications.