Acute kidney injury: top ten tips

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality, and represents a significant financial burden for the NHS. The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death (NCEPOD)'s report, Adding insult to injury, demonstrated that only 50% of patients who died from AKI received good care and 30% of patients had predictable and avoidable AKI. It is therefore essential to identify patients at risk of AKI early and to treat patients who develop it promptly. This article proposes how this may be achieved by highlighting ten top tips that describe the points along the patient pathway where it is possible to intervene and prevent or treat AKI. The tips emphasise the importance of good basic medical care and the need for engagement with patients, healthcare professionals and hospital processes. The implementation of these tips in hospitals across the UK could potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce associated costs.