Indications for Dialysis

The decision to begin dialysis treatment is one that must be reserved for the patient and their physician. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration when evaluating the need for renal replacement and the initiation of treatment is not always based on standard textbook indications for dialysis. Similar to other areas of healthcare, positive patient care outcomes are usually dependent on an accurate medical diagnosis in conjunction with the patient’s approval of a treatment plan.


In general, individuals begin to develop the need for dialysis when their kidney function drops below 10 to 15 percent of normal. At this point, patients commonly start to experience adverse physical reactions that result from the buildup of excess water and waste. Some common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, swelling of the feet, and fatigue. While these symptoms are indicative of the need for treatment, many dialysis patients require therapy long before they develop any of these uncomfortable reactions. Individuals who are at risk of acute or chronic kidney disease need to engage in regular communication with their physician so that adverse health effects can be minimized. …Click Here to Continue Reading


How to Improve Kidney Function

A kidney is a complex structure that serves to filter water and waste from the body. Most people have two kidneys that are the size of a fist and are situated on either side of the spine near the bottom ribs. The kidneys filter around 200 quarts of blood each day. Since the average human has six to eight liters of blood in their body, the kidneys are capable of filtering the entire bloodstream around 25 times per day. Understanding the structure of a kidney is the first step in learning how to improve kidney function.

The Filtration Process


As blood passes through the body, it is directed to the kidneys by a series of blood vessels that go from very large to extremely small. Within the kidneys there is a complex arrangement of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that only allow a single blood cell to pass through at a time. These vessels pass by a structure that contains a membrane that allows small particles to leave the bloodstream. The pores in this membrane are too small for blood cells to pass and they allow for the collection of water and waste in tubules while preventing blood cells from leaving the body. …Click Here to Continue Reading


Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter

A peritoneal dialysis catheter is a tube that is placed in the abdomen of patients who want to administer their own treatment while at home. This acts as an alternative to clinical dialysis. In order for home dialysis to be successful, a patient must use the peritoneal dialysis catheter to fill the abdomen with fluid. This fluid is designed to allow water and waste to leave the blood vessels in the abdomen and enter the fluid. The fluid is then removed from the abdominal cavity in a process known as an exchange.


There are many benefits associated with self-administered dialysis that often appeal to patients. One of the most important benefits is the ability to receive treatment while at home, work, or during travel. It can be extremely difficult for patients to accept the need to make multiple trips to a dialysis clinic each week when all they want to do is have the freedom to go on living their lives. Peritoneal dialysis gives patients the option to receive treatment while continuing to enjoy the activities of daily living that they have grown accustomed to. Although the placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter can be unnerving to some patients, it is often a trade-off that individuals are willing to make. …Click Here to Continue Reading