A 65-year-old male patient presents with sudden onset of oliguria and signs of dehydration His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, heart rate is 110 bpm and he has poor skin turgor. Laboratory results show elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN and creatinine levels. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his acute kidney injury (AKI)?
Hypovolemia leading to decreased renal perfusion
Acute tubular necrosis
Urinary tract obstruction
Chronic kidney disease
The Correct Answer is A
A. Hypovolemia leading to decreased renal perfusion. Hypovolemia from dehydration and low blood pressure reduces blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in pre-renal AKI, characterized by elevated BUN and creatinine.
B. Acute tubular necrosis. Acute tubular necrosis may cause AKI but is often due to prolonged hypoperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs, or ischemia, not the immediate presentation seen here.
C. Urinary tract obstruction. A urinary tract obstruction leads to post-renal AKI, often with symptoms like flank pain or difficulty urinating, not dehydration and low blood pressure.
D. Chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition and would not cause the acute symptoms or sudden onset of AKI as seen in this patient.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Administering mannitol intravenously: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic that helps reduce ICP by drawing fluid out of brain tissue and decreasing cerebral edema, making it a priority intervention.
B. Encouraging the patient to hyperventilate: Controlled hyperventilation may reduce ICP temporarily by lowering CO₂ levels and causing cerebral vasoconstriction. However, it should only be done cautiously under close monitoring, and other ICP management techniques like mannitol administration take priority.
C. Administering a high-dose corticosteroid: Corticosteroids are generally ineffective for reducing ICP in traumatic brain injury and are typically not recommended in this scenario.
D. Performing a lumbar puncture immediately: Lumbar puncture is contraindicated in cases of increased ICP because it may lead to brain herniation due to the sudden release of pressure.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs): IGRAs are useful for detecting TB infection but do not confirm active TB disease. They measure the immune response to TB bacteria but don’t differentiate between latent and active infection.
B. Sputum culture: Sputum culture is the gold standard for confirming active TB because it identifies Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria directly, confirming active infection.
C. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST): The TST can indicate TB infection but cannot distinguish between latent and active TB, making it unsuitable as a confirmatory test for active disease.
D. Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray can show signs suggestive of TB but cannot confirm the presence of TB bacteria, so it is not definitive for diagnosing active TB.