Kidney Dysfunction in Critically Ill Patients

Acute kidney dysfunctions in critically ill patients make a frequent complication. For the last 10 years, significant conceptual changes have occurred in this respect: the definition of acute kidney failure (stating a renal catastrophe) has been replaced with acute kidney injury; the stage of acute kidney disease, preceding the development of the chronic condition has been defined. It highlights the rate of changes developing in kidneys after injury, and now it is possible to focus on approaches to diagnostics, prevention of kidney failure, and use of kidney replacement therapy. The review presents the information on the stages of kidney dysfunction, diagnostic criteria, approaches to its prevention and treatment.