Assessment of Renal Function

The assessment of renal function and of homeostatic abnormalities occupies a central place in the management of critically ill patients. The kidney plays an essential role in maintaining the volume and composition of the body fluids. Although gross changes in concentration of certain constituents, of which urea and creatinine are the most obvious, it is possible that alteration in the ratio of physiologically active plasma constituents may be more likely to interfere with cell function acting as the primary abnormality, triggering off a series of changes which may ultimately prove fatal.