Evaluation and management of acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit.

Acute disorders of the kidney occur in up to two-thirds of patients in the intensive care unit. The diagnosis is associated with increased mortality and increased hospital stay. Often recognized but less frequently defined, it is commonly encountered by physicians caring for critically-ill patients. A standardized definition regarding acute kidney injury was published in 2004. This has led to improvements in measuring mortality and treatment outcomes with a more targeted approach to caring for these difficult to treat patients.