Acute renal failure is the sudden shutdown of your kidneys. They no longer perform their normal functions of making urine, ridding your body of wastes, and keeping your body's electrolytes in proper balance.
Electrolytes are chemicals that help regulate certain body processes.
Normal kidney function is usually regained once the condition underlying the acute renal failure is corrected. Acute renal failure can last for days or weeks. It may take the kidneys many months to regain full function. There is always the possibility of some permanent kidney damage. In some cases, however, acute renal failure cannot be reversed.