Acute renal failure due to obstruction in urinary pathways is classified as which type?

Acute renal failure due to obstruction in urinary pathways is classified as post renal failure. This type of renal failure occurs when there is an obstruction that prevents urine from being expelled from the kidneys, leading to a backup of urine and increasing pressure within the renal system. As a result, this can cause kidney damage and impaired function.

Post renal failure is distinguished from pre renal failure, which is caused by conditions leading to decreased blood flow to the kidneys (such as heart failure or severe dehydration), and renal failure, which results from intrinsic problems within the kidney tissue itself (like glomerulonephritis or acute tubular necrosis). Chronic renal failure refers to a gradual loss of kidney function over a longer period, typically due to long-term diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. Given that the scenario specifies an acute issue stemming from obstruction, post renal is the appropriate classification.