Fluid therapy and acute kidney injury: A question of balance?

Abstract

Fluid therapy remains one of the fundamental treatment options available for patients with acute kidney injury. However, there remains debate over several aspects of this treatment with many questions unanswered. Firstly, how do we prescribe fluid in this group of patients? Secondly, what is the role of fluid therapy in patients with or at risk of developing acute kidney injury and thirdly, what role does fluid balance play, if any, in the development of acute kidney injury. The following narrative review will attempt to tie some of the aspects of the treatment of this devastating syndrome together and formulate an overall hypothesis for fluid management in acute kidney injury.