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Acute renal failure

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Prognosis

Many patients require dialysis c , but few require it long-term c  

Mortality is high, particularly if patients require dialysis a  

Patients are more likely to die if they

  • have acute stroke or seizure b  
  • have acute myocardial infarction b  
  • have oliguria b  
  • are male b  
  • are on mechanical ventilation b  
  • have sepsis b  
Patients on dialysis are more likely to die if they b  
  • have CNS depression after the first week
  • required inotropic drug support after the first week
  • are elderly

Expiry date: July 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   C   Clase , CM   Ball
Reviewer   S   Hsu
CAT Writers   C   Clase , CM   Ball