Acute Kidney Failure Acute kidney failure is the inability of your kidneys to function properly. In acute kidney failure, the kidneys lose the ability to remove waste and balance fluids and electrolytes. Functional and structural changes, also called pathophysiological changes, associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) involve changes in renal hemodynamics, nephron function, and cellular metabolism. ARF can cause symptoms such as a sudden loss of the kidneys' ability to excrete waste, concentrate urine, retain electrolytes, and maintain fluid balance. Interactions of tubular and vascular events result in ARF and the main cause of ARF is ischemia, which is a restricted supply of blood to tissues. This reduction in renal blood flow causes kidney cells to die. The three phases of acute renal failure are prerenal, intrarenal and postrenal. The most common type of AKI is prerenal acute kidney injury and accounts for approximately 55% of all AKI cases. Prerenal AKI is caused by a complication of a condition, medication, or disease that causes a rapid decrease in blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in loss of kidney function. In prerenal AKI, the kidneys are usually fully functional before blood flow is reduced. Prerenal AKI can be caused by major cardiac or abdominal surgery, serious infection (sepsis), or injury; medications that interfere with blood supply to the kidneys, such as ACE inhibitors and NSAIDs; severe dehydration caused by excessive fluid loss; severe burns; pancreatitis and liver diseases that create fluid shifts in the abdomen (Hudson 2003). Prompt correction of the underlying problem allows the kidneys to return to normal function...... middle of paper ......PH. (2013). Uremia. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/245296-overviewHudson, K. RN MSN CCRN, (2003). Acute renal failure - 3 CE in nursing. Retrieved from http://dynamicnursingeducation.com/class.php?class_id=131&pid=18Miller, SMD (2011). Kidney transplant. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003005.htmSchiffl, HMD, Lang, SMD, & Fischer, RMD (2002). Daily hemodialysis and outcome of acute renal failure. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223941278/F1C1DFAB03144970PQ/6?accountid=37862 Tiu, ADO, (2011). Kidney disease. Retrieved from http://hab.hrsa.gov/deliverhivaidscare/clinicalguide11/cg-605_renal_disease.html#S3XTruven Health Analytics Inc. (2013). Kidney failure diet. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/cg/renal-failure-diet.html