Ultrasound can reduce kidney injuries

Ultrasound can be used to prevent acute kidney injury following surgery.

Kidney injuries that can follow on from operations can be prevented using ultrasound, new research shows.

Researchers from the University of Virginia reported in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology that the anti-inflammatory effects of ultrasound can prevent acute kidney injury (AKI).

Patients can suffer AKI after major surgery, which is where kidneys stop working suddenly. This can lead to a number of infections manifesting, some of which can have fatal consequences.

AKI can occur after surgery because kidneys can be deprived of blood during the process.

The researchers tested their theory on anaesthetised mice. After cutting off the blood supply to the mice's kidneys, the researchers then exposed them to ultrasound treatment. It was found that the mice still had healthy kidneys following this treatment.

It is theorised that the treatment causes an anti-inflammatory response from the spleen, which then works to protect the kidneys.

Ultrasound could then, therefore, present a non-invasive and non-toxic treatment for AKI.