Diagnosing Acute Kidney Failure
If you have acute kidney failure you may have generalized swelling. The swelling is caused by fluid retention.
Using a stethoscope, your physician may hear crackling in the lungs. These sounds can signal fluid retention.
Results of laboratory tests may also show sudden changes. Some of these tests include:
blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
serum potassium
urinalysis
creatinine clearance
serum creatinine
An ultrasound is the preferred method for diagnosing acute kidney failure. However, abdominal X-ray, abdominal CT scan, and abdominal MRI can determine if there is a blockage in your urinary tract.
Certain blood tests may also reveal underlying causes of acute kidney failure.