Chapter 38 - Acute Kidney Injury in Burns and Trauma

Abstract

Cases of critical illness involving major traumatic or burn injuries complicated more often affect younger patient with lesser degrees of comorbidity, representing an abrupt transition from health to critical illness within minutes. Consequently, acute kidney injury (AKI) in these settings may have specific injury-related causes, is often a marker of the severity of acute physiologic derangement, and is associated strongly with risk of death. The care of trauma and burns patients with or at risk of AKI therefore requires specific consideration with regard to specific AKI risk factors, pathophysiology, and management.