Acute renal failure management — MCQs

A 62-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of fatigue and weakness. Her hemoglobin A1c concentration was 13.5% 12 weeks ago. Her blood pressure is 152/92 mm Hg. Examination shows lower extremity edema. Serum studies show: K+ 5.1 mEq/L Phosphorus 5.0 mg/dL Ca2+ 7.8 mg/dL Urea nitrogen 60 mg/dL Creatinine 2.2 mg/dL Which of the following is the best parameter for early detection of this patient’s renal condition?

A 55-year-old man with a history of IV drug abuse presents to the emergency department with an altered mental status. He was found unconscious in the park by police. His temperature is 100.0°F (37.8°C), blood pressure is 87/48 mmHg, pulse is 150/min, respirations are 17/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam is notable for multiple scars and abscesses in the antecubital fossa. His laboratory studies are ordered as seen below. Serum: Na+: 139 mEq/L Cl-: 105 mEq/L K+: 4.3 mEq/L HCO3-: 19 mEq/L BUN: 20 mg/dL Glucose: 95 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.5 mg/dL Ca2+: 10.2 mg/dL Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for this patient’s blood pressure and acid-base status?

A 56-year-old man is brought to the Emergency Department with intense chest pain that radiates to his left arm and jaw. He also complains of feeling lightheaded. Upon arrival, his blood pressure is 104/60 mm Hg, pulse is 102/min, respiratory rate is 25/min, body temperature is 36.5°C (97.7°F), and oxygen saturation is 94% on room air. An electrocardiogram shows an ST-segment elevation in I, aVL, and V5-6. The patient is transferred to the cardiac interventional suite for a percutaneous coronary intervention. The patient is admitted to the hospital after successful revascularization. During his first night on the ICU floor his urinary output is 0.15 mL/kg/h. Urinalysis shows muddy brown casts. Which of the following outcomes specific to the patient’s condition would you expect to find?

A 33-year-old man presents to the emergency department because of an episode of bloody emesis. He has had increasing dyspnea over the past 2 days. He was diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease last year. He has been on regular hemodialysis for the past 2 years because of end-stage renal disease. He skipped his last dialysis session because of an unexpected business trip. He has no history of liver disease. His supine blood pressure is 110/80 mm Hg and upright is 90/70, pulse is 110/min, respirations are 22/min, and temperature is 36.2°C (97.2°F). The distal extremities are cold to touch, and the outstretched hand shows flapping tremor. A bloody nasogastric lavage is also noted, which eventually clears after saline irrigation. Intravenous isotonic saline and high-dose proton pump inhibitors are initiated, and the patient is admitted into the intensive care unit. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

Ten days after being discharged from the hospital, a 42-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of reduced urine output for 3 days. Physical examination is normal. Serum creatinine concentration is 2.9 mg/dL. Urinalysis shows brownish granular casts and 2+ proteinuria. Renal biopsy shows patchy necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubule with sloughing of tubular cells into the lumen and preservation of tubular basement membranes. Administration of which of the following drugs during this patient's hospitalization is most likely the cause of the observed decrease in renal function?

An 84-year-old man is brought to the physician by the staff of a group home where he resides because of worsening confusion and decreased urinary output. His nurse reports that the patient has not been drinking much for the last 3 days. Examination shows a decreased skin turgor and dry oral mucosa. His pulse is 105/min and blood pressure is 100/65 mm Hg. His serum creatinine is 3.1 mg/dL and a urea nitrogen is 42 mg/dL. Urine studies show multiple brownish granular casts. Which of the following processes is most likely involved in the pathogenesis of this patient's condition?

An asymptomatic 15-year-old high school wrestler with no family history of renal disease is completing his preseason physical exam. He submits a urine sample for a dipstick examination, which tests positive for protein. What is the next appropriate step in management?

A 63-year-old man undergoes uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and is admitted to the surgical ward for postoperative management. On postoperative day 1, routine laboratory studies reveal an increase in serum creatinine to 1.46 mg/dL from 0.98 mg/dL before the operation; BUN is 37 mg/dL, increased from 18 mg/dL on prior measurement; K is 4.8 mEq/L and CO2 is 19 mEq/L. The patient has an indwelling urinary catheter in place, draining minimal urine over the last few hours. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 49-year-old woman presents to the emergency room with bloody stool and malaise. She developed a fever and acute left lower quadrant abdominal pain earlier in the day. She has had 2 bowel movements with bright red blood. Her past medical history is notable for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. She takes lovastatin, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, glyburide, and aspirin. Her temperature is 102.9°F (39.4°C), blood pressure is 101/61 mmHg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 22/min. On exam, she is fully alert and oriented. She is tender in the left lower quadrant. A computerized tomography (CT) scan is performed demonstrating acute diverticulitis. She is admitted and started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. 48 hours later, her urine output is significantly decreased. Her abdominal pain has improved but she has started vomiting and appears confused. She has new bilateral lower extremity edema and decreased breath sounds at the lung bases. Laboratory analysis upon admission and 48 hours later is shown below: Admission: Hemoglobin: 11.9 g/dl Hematocrit: 34% Leukocyte count: 11,500/mm^3 Platelet count: 180,000/ mm^3 Serum: Na+: 141 mEq/L Cl-: 103 mEq/L K+: 4.5 mEq/L HCO3-: 23 mEq/L BUN: 21 mg/dL Glucose: 110 mg/dL Creatinine: 0.9 mg/dL 48 hours later: Hemoglobin: 10.1 g/dl Hematocrit: 28% Leukocyte count: 11,500 cells/mm^3 Platelet count: 195,000/ mm^3 Serum: Na+: 138 mEq/L Cl-: 100 mEq/L K+: 5.1 mEq/L HCO3-: 24 mEq/L BUN: 30 mg/dL Glucose: 120 mg/dL Creatinine: 2.1 mg/dL Which of the following findings would most likely be seen on urine microscopy?

A 25-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of a 6-day history of fever and chills. During this period, he has had generalized weakness, chest pain, and night sweats. He has a bicuspid aortic valve and recurrent migraine attacks. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 5 years. He does not drink alcohol. He has experimented with intravenous drugs in the past but has not used any illicit drugs in the last two months. Current medications include propranolol and a multivitamin. He appears ill. His temperature is 39°C (102.2°F), pulse is 108/min, respirations are 14/min, and blood pressure is 150/50 mm Hg. Diffuse crackles are heard. A grade 3/6 high-pitched, early diastolic, decrescendo murmur is best heard along the left sternal border. An S3 gallop is heard. The remainder of the physical examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 13.1 g/dL Leukocyte count 13,300/mm3 Platelet count 270,000/mm3 Serum Glucose 92 mg/dL Creatinine 0.9 mg/dL Total bilirubin 0.4 mg/dL AST 25 U/L ALT 28 U/L Three sets of blood cultures are sent to the laboratory. Transthoracic echocardiography confirms the diagnosis. In addition to antibiotic therapy, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?