Acute renal failure in the critically ill patient.

This article focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of the most common forms of acute renal failure encountered in the critically ill. These include pre-renal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis that occurs postoperatively, in patients with rhabdomyolysis, or as a complication of sepsis. In addition, some unusual causes of acute renal failure that occur predominantly in the intensive care unit are briefly discussed.