Acute kidney injury in surgical patients

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and dangerous complication of surgical admission with even mild degrees of renal dysfunction being associated with reduced survival. Unfortunately, as confirmed by the UK's National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD), its recognition is often delayed and management frequently sub-optimal. A failure to recognize relevant risk factors may expose surgical patients, unnecessarily, to an increased likelihood of developing AKI. In this review article, we present a structured approach to prevention, diagnosis and initial management that should provide a framework for the clinical care of all patients either at risk of, or suffering with, AKI.