Explain the pathophysiology of acute renal failure. Include prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal causes. The pathophysiology of acute renal failure occurs when the kidney no longer functions properly. Prerenal causes of acute renal failure are lack of prefusion to the kidney. The main cause of prerenal is ischemia or inadequate blood flow to the kidney. This lack of perfusion leads to renal failure. Some causes of prerenal acute renal failure may include blood loss or dehydration. Intrarenal causes are damage to the kidney. Some causes of intrarenal are trauma to the kidneys or medications that damage the kidneys. Post renal failure occurs when urine cannot be excreted normally by the kidney. The most common causes of postrenal renal failure include blockage of the urinary tract. What diagnostic tests would be used to diagnose acute renal failure? How do these tests change as kidney failure progresses through its 3 stages? Discuss, compare and contrast the 3 phases. Some tests used by doctors to diagnose acute kidney injury include blood urea nitrogen, urinalysis, serum creatinine levels, and serum potassium levels. A blood urea nitrogen test can help find out how well your kidneys are working. Urinalysis is used as a tool to identify what is wrong or how severe the kidney failure is. A serum creatinine level test is used to detect how well your kidneys are working. A serum potassium level test, like the serum creatinine test, is also a good indicator of how well the kidneys are filtering. Doctors also use an ultrasound, x-ray, or MRI to examine the kidneys. In the first stage of renal failure Stage one of the initial acute renal function decreases. Signs and symptoms will begin to show in any tests performed. glomerular filtration rate at s...... middle of paper ......ng and trying to get the patient to follow an adequate diet. Long-term goals include maintaining drug and treatment therapy, helping the patient adjust to the new lifestyle, and trying to prevent infection. Works cited1) Atrial fibrillation; New findings reported by the University of Birmingham describe progress in atrial fibrillation. (2011, May). Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Week,771. Retrieved May 12, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2343077951).2) Torpy, J., Lynm, C., & Golub, R.. (2011). Kidney transplant. JAMA, 305(6), 634. Retrieved May 12, 2011, from the Research Library. (Document ID: 2275042271).3) Zhang, Y., Cotter, D., & Thamer, M.. (2011). The effect of dialysis chains on mortality among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Health Services Research, 46(3), 747-767. Retrieved May 12, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2335834101).