Topic module

Acute Kidney Injury, Fluids and Electrolytes

Recognise acute kidney injury and dangerous electrolyte disturbance, correct reversible causes and prescribe fluids safely.

Long-form learning

Concept to Risk to Memory to Check-up

Practise recognising the immediate clinical task, ruling in or out dangerous alternatives, choosing the safest next step and closing the loop.

Core concepts

Concept 1

Acute kidney injury is a syndrome requiring cause, severity, complications, medicine review and urine-output assessment.

Exam cue: Classify the immediate threat before refining the renal diagnosis.

Concept 2

Fluid therapy is a prescription with indication, composition, rate, monitoring and stopping rules.

Exam cue: Reconcile volume status, medicines, laboratory trend and obstruction risk.

Risk pitfalls and guardrails

Giving reflex fluid boluses without assessing overload.

Guardrail: Avoid an option that names a plausible diagnosis but ignores physiology, contraindications, competence, patient priorities or follow-up.

Treating a laboratory number while missing ECG or clinical instability.

Guardrail: Avoid an option that names a plausible diagnosis but ignores physiology, contraindications, competence, patient priorities or follow-up.

Memory anchors

What are the broad AKI mechanisms?

Pre-renal hypoperfusion, intrinsic renal injury and post-renal obstruction.

What belongs in an AKI medicine review?

Stop or adjust nephrotoxins and medicines affected by renal function while treating the cause.

When is hyperkalaemia an emergency?

When severe, symptomatic, rapidly rising or associated with ECG change.

What makes IV fluid prescribing safe?

Indication, fluid and electrolyte content, rate, comorbidity, monitoring and reassessment.

When should renal help be sought early?

Severe or unexplained AKI, refractory complications, suspected intrinsic disease or possible renal replacement need.

Checkpoint rule

Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.

Knowledge Check (after reading)

Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.

1-2 question checkpoint

An inpatient's creatinine rises from 80 to 130 micromol/L within 36 hours. What is the best interpretation?

A patient with AKI has potassium 7.1 mmol/L, broad QRS complexes and peaked T waves. What is the immediate priority?

Answer all questions to submit.

Next step personalized recommendations

Move forward only after this module is stable.

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