KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury
Introduction

Chapter 2.3: Evaluation and general management of patients with and at risk for AKI

Given that AKI is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and because no specific treatment is available to reverse AKI, early recognition and management is paramount. Indeed, recognition of patients at risk for AKI, or with possible AKI but prior to clinical manifestations, is likely to result in better outcomes than treating only established AKI. Chapter 2.2 introduced the approach to risk assessment with further detail provided in Appendix C. This chapter will concern itself with the evaluation and general management of patients with, or even at risk for, AKI. Further detail is provided in Appendix D. We highlight the importance of beginning management at the earliest point in the development of AKI—in patients with suspected AKI or even in those at increased risk who have been exposed to the various factors discussed in Chapters 2.2 and Appendix C.

Although much of the remaining chapters in this guideline pertain to management of specific aspects of AKI, there are general management principles that are common to all patients and these will be discussed here and further expounded upon in Appendix D. Treatment goals in patients with AKI include both reducing kidney injury and complications related to decreased kidney function.