| Kidney Failure
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There are two different types of kidney failure: acute and chronic. Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly, while chronic kidney failure occurs over a long period of time. Kidney failure is defined as the loss of the kidney’s ability to function properly. The main function of the kidneys is to eliminate excess fluid and waste material from the bloodstream.
Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is most common in people who are already hospitalized. This is because acute kidney failure occurs most often after a complicated surgery, a severe injury, or when the blood flow to the kidneys is disrupted. Unlike chronic kidney failure, acute kidney failure is usually reversible.
Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure most commonly affects those that have high blood pressure or diabetes. Chronic kidney failure is nearly always permanent.
Signs and Symptoms
- Decreased urine output
- Fluid retention (as marked by swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet)
- Drowsiness
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Coma
- Chest pain
Causes
The causes of acute kidney failure are usually categorized in relation to how and where they affect the kidneys.
Prerenal: interferes with blood flow on its way to the kidneys.
Most common causes:
- Extremely low blood pressure
- Poor heart function
- Low blood volume.
Renal: damage directly to the kidneys.
Most common causes:
- Toxic injury
- Inflamed kidneys
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Disorders that reduce blood supply to the kidneys.
Postrenal: problems with urine flow after it has left the kidneys.
Most common causes:
- Ureter obstruction
- Bladder obstruction.
Who’s at risk?
Although many factors determine who is most at risk for kidney failure, the following increase your chances of having your kidneys fail.
- Severe injuries
- Severe burns
- Overwhelming infection
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Drug overdose
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Long-term use of pain medications
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Blood disorders
- Immune disorders
- Kidney diseases
- Liver diseases
- Prostate gland enlargement
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Multi organ failure
- Multiple blood transfusions
- Recent history of stroke or heart attack
- Postoperative stroke
- Advanced age
- Infection
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Preexisting malnutrition.
Drugs
Recent studies have shown that the following drugs may increase your risk for kidney failure.
- Vioxx (recalled in September 2004)
- Crestor
- Baycol (recalled in August 2001)
- Aprotinin / Trasylol - according to 2006 study in New England Journal of
Medicine, more than doubled the risk of kidney failure.
We can help!
At Goren, Goren & Harris, P.C., we pride ourselves on offering quality service to each and every one of our clients. For nearly four decades, our law firm has fought for our client’s right to receive monetary compensation from injuries caused by others. We are licensed in Michigan and Ohio, and, with the assistance of co-counsel, have helped clients in many other states as well. We are experienced in medical malpractice, personal injury and products liability. Our attorneys have been recognized in Martindale-Hubbell (with their highest AV rating for quality of legal services and for ethics), by Law and Politics (with a listing as a “Super Lawyer”), and we have been asked to lecture other attorneys, have written numerous articles and chapters and have earned millions for our clients (we are listed as “Million Dollar Advocate” members).
If you or someone you love has suffered because of kidney failure, contact the attorneys at Goren, Goren & Harris, P.C. for a consultation, free of charge! |
