title: Prognosis in posttraumatic acute renal failure is adversely influenced by hypotension and hyperkalaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To see if it is possible to predict mortality in isolated post-traumatic acute renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study 1984-1990 inclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients who developed isolated post-traumatic acute renal failure out of 106526 admissions for trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard aggressive management of traumatic injury and acute renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen of the 39 patients who developed post-traumatic acute renal failure died (39%). Blunt trauma from assaults was a major cause of acute renal failure (16/39, 41%). Hypotension and hyperkalaemia were the two main predictors of death having a mortality of 63% and 52%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the risks of hypotension and hyperkalaemia in injured patients. Preventive measures such as aggressive resuscitation and timely correction of serum electrolyte concentrations are essential in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nadvi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mokoena
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouws
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haffejee
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics