Kidneys are the body’s natural filtration system. They perform the critical task of processing approximately 200 quarts of fluid in the bloodstream every 24 hours. Waste products like urea and toxins, along with excess fluids, are removed from the bloodstream in the form of urine.
Kidney failure is the sudden loss of kidneys’ ability to perform their main function – eliminate excess fluid and electrolytes as well as waste material from your blood. When kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and waste accumulate in the body. As fluids build up in the bloodstream, people with kidney failure may become puffy and swollen in the face, hands, and feet. Their blood pressure typically begins to rise, and they may experience fatigue.
Kidney Failure Treatment
There are two types of Kidney failure, acute and chronic. Acute kidney failure occurs when illness, infection, or injury damages the kidneys. These usually cause kidneys to temporarily unable to adequately remove fluids and wastes from the body or maintain the proper level of certain kidney-regulated chemicals in the bloodstream. Acute kidney failure is potentially life-threatening and may require intensive treatment. However, the kidneys usually start working again within several weeks to months after the underlying cause has been treated.
Chronic kidney failure occurs when a number of diseases or inherited disorders injure the kidneys, this can lead to irreversible damage, and eventually total kidney failure.
Treatment for Kidney failure ranges from medication, dialysis to transplant depending on the level of damage of the kidneys. The goal of treatment is to restore kidney function and prevent fluid and waste from building up in the body while the kidneys heal.
Medication
Some drugs has been known to be prescribed such as
- Antihypertensive to reduce blood pressure which can relieve breathlessness and prolong the kidney function.
- Diuretics to reduce the body water level by increasing the amount of urine
- Erythropoietin to stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood cell which is important to transport oxygen throughout the body.
- Supplement of iron and vitamins
The problem with any drugs is that healthy kidneys are very important in removing some drugs and medicines from the body. So, when this function is impaired, these drugs will not be effectively removed and may remain in the blood in high concentrations.
Dialysis
A soft tube called a catheter is used to fill abdomen with a cleansing liquid called dialysis solution. The walls of abdominal cavity are lined with a membrane called the peritoneum, which allows waste products and extra fluid to pass from blood into the dialysis solution. The solution contains a sugar called dextrose that will pull wastes and extra fluid into the abdominal cavity.
These wastes and fluid then leave body when the dialysis solution is drained. The used solution, containing wastes and extra fluid, is then thrown away. The process of draining and filling is called an exchange and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The period the dialysis solution is in abdomen is called the dwell time. A typical schedule calls for four exchanges a day, each with a dwell time of 4 to 6 hours. Different types of dialysis have different schedules of daily exchanges.
Dialysis can control any level of substance in blood except for phosphate. Phosphate can build up and with calcium can block blood vessel. Phosphate is also very hard to control through diet because virtually all food contains phosphate. Doctors usually prescribed Phosphate Binders to lower body phosphate.
Transplant
Not everyone chooses to have a transplant, some prefer the dialysis and feel well enough, and there are sometimes medical reasons why a transplant operation is not possible. For example people with serious heart or lung disease or problems with leg circulation or cancer, and frail elderly who are unlikely to tolerate the operation or the medication that is needed afterwards.
If you do opt for a transplant, provided you are medically fit to undergo the operation, you can be put on the waiting list for a suitable kidney.
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