​The Basics of Dialysis and Kidney Failure

Dialysis is a medical process that helps to restore your kidneys to their normal function so you can still drink water and take in nutrients. End-stage renal disease (ESR), or dialysis, is the final stage of chronic renal failure (CKD). With dialysis, your kidneys no longer can do their part in cleaning your body of waste products. Instead, you will require dialysis treatment either dialysis therapy or a kidney transplant. This process requires ongoing dialysis maintenance to prevent permanent damage to the kidneys and urinary tract.

Dialysis can be performed as an outpatient procedure or as a hospital stay. If you have chronic health issues, like diabetes or HIV/AIDS, you may need dialysis treatments for some time before you can be treated by a kidney transplant. Dialysis may also be required due to some conditions that are not life-threatening. Whether you require dialysis because of advanced diseases or because of common diseases, there are treatment options available.
 
There are four main types of dialysis: external tube dialysis (ITD), balloon catheter dialysis (CBDS), concentric banded dialysis (CBT) and concentric triturating dialysis (CTD). All of these require ongoing nutritional support to ensure the patient's health. Patients who are on ITD require supplemental potassium, calcium, phosphorus and folic acid. Patients who are on CBDS require a constant blood sample for protein assimilation and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) determination.

There are several different causes of kidney failure and they include chronic disorders, infections, side effects from certain medications, kidney damage caused by dialysis, malnourishment, and genetic disorders. Common dialysis complications include urinary tract infections, bleeding, electrolyte abnormalities, kidney fractures, and kidney failure. As well as they should, patients with common diseases that put their lives at risk, like those mentioned above, may also be subject to other complications, which can complicate their treatment and add further costs. These complications can be as simple as loss of appetite, fluid retention, nausea, pain in the lower back, vomiting, diarrhea, bad taste in the mouth, vision problems, and fever.

If your kidneys fail to perform the functions they should, you will need dialysis treatment to keep your body functioning normally. There are various treatment options, depending on what kind of renal failure you suffer from, so it is important to know what your particular situation is. One treatment option is kidney transplantation, which involves the transfer of a healthy kidney from a person with kidney problems to a person with no kidney problems. Other treatment options may include trying to stop working your dialysis machine, or even dialysis surgery, which is more invasive and expensive.

Certain medications may help to prevent kidney failure in certain people. Your healthcare providers will likely discuss these medications with you before starting treatment, but there is not guarantee that the drugs will work for you. Some drugs associated with dialysis, like potassium and salt, may help to prevent kidney disease by preventing dialysis related inflammation.
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Some dialysis treatment options may cause side effects, including muscle weakness and changes in blood pressure. It is important to follow your healthcare providers' instructions about the medications you take, especially if you are taking medication to prevent kidney failure. Some patients will not be able to continue certain types of treatments, such as peritoneal dialysis or forced ventricular assist, due to kidney failure. You should carefully discuss these treatment options with your doctor, as well as read the medications insert and discuss any possible side effects. If you are unsure about the medications you are taking, or if you experience a side effect, contact your doctor immediately.

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