Discharge Instructions - Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

As discussed in the Emergency Department prior to discharge, you have been diagnosed with an acute kidney injury or AKI.  An acute kidney injury is when the kidneys either work more poorly or stop working.  Normally the kidneys filter the blood and remove waste and excess salt and water.

A number of things can cause an acute kidney injury including:

    -Less blood than usual flows to the kidneys (as in heart failure or dehydration)

    -The kidneys get damaged (as with infections, certain medications, and cancers)

    -The path the urine takes to leave the body is blocked (as in prostate enlargement or a stone)

An acute kidney injury can result in urinating less or not at all, blood in the urine, vomiting, loss of appetite, swelling (especially in the legs or feet), feeling weak or fatigued, confusion, and even seizures.

You may have received fluids through an IV in the Emergency Department, which can help your body flush out waste and excess salt and water.  It is important that you drink plenty of fluids in the next 24-48 hours to continue to flush out harmful substances in the blood.

You may have been directed to follow up with your primary care provider or in the Emergency Department for repeat labs.  It is important that you follow up with these labs to ensure that your kidneys are recovering from this acute injury.

Return to the Emergency Department for worsening pain, fever (≥38.0 °C or 100.4 °F) after 2 days of antibiotics, inability to pass urine for 6 hours after multiple attempts, or any new or concerning symptoms.