Renal Involvement in Sepsis: Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of sepsis due to a myriad of contributing factors and leads to significant morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Prompt identification and management are vital to reverse and/or prevent the worsening of AKI. When renal function is severely compromised, there may be a need for dialytic therapy to meet the metabolic needs of patients. This article will review the definition of AKI, epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology of AKI in sepsis, along with both non-dialytic and dialytic treatment strategies. We will also review landmark trials in fluid resuscitation in sepsis.