Kidney dialysis

Kidney transplant During kidney transplant surgery, the donor kidney is placed in your lower abdomen. Blood vessels of the new kidney are attached to blood vessels in the lower part of your abdomen, just above one of your legs. The new kidney's urine tube (ureter) is connected to your bladder. Unless they are causing complications, your own kidneys are left in place. A kidney transplant is a surgery to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the spine just below the rib cage. Each is about the size of a fist. Their main function is to filter and remove waste, minerals and fluid from the blood by producing urine. When kidneys lose this filtering ability, harmful levels of fluid and waste accumulate in the body, which can raise blood pressure and result in kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost about 90% of their ability to function normally. End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost about 90% of their ability to function normally. Common causes of end-stage kidney disease include: • Diabetes • Chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure • Chronic glomerulonephritis — an inflammation and eventual scarring of the tiny filters within the kidneys • Polycystic kidney disease People with end-stage renal disease need to have waste removed from their bloodstream via a machine...

Kidney biopsy During a kidney biopsy, your doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for lab testing. The biopsy needle is inserted through your skin and is often directed using the guidance of an imaging device, such as ultrasound. To diagnose end-stage renal disease, your health care provider may ask you about your family's and your medical history. You may also have physical and neurological exams, along with other tests such as: • Blood tests, to measure the amount of waste products, such as creatinine and urea, in your blood • Urine tests, to check the level of the protein albumin in your urine • Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, to assess your kidneys and look for unusual areas • Removing a sample of kidney tissue (biopsy), to examine under a microscope to learn what type of kidney disease you have and how much damage there is Certain tests might be repeated over time to help your provider follow the progress of your kidney disease. Stages of kidney disease There are five stages of kidney disease. To determine what stage you have, your health care provider performs a blood test to check your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR measures how much blood the kidneys filter each minute, recorded as milliliters per minute (mL/min). As the GFR declines, so does your kidney function. When your kidneys no longer work at a level that's necessary to keep you alive, you have end-stage renal disease. End-stage renal disease usually occu...

Health insurance pays for some, if not all, of your dialysis treatment. There are different types of health insurance and insurance plans. Each insurance plan may have different costs. Medicare Part B pays 80% of the costs of dialysis. You are responsible to either pay for the other 20% of the costs or find a supplemental plan (like a Medigap policy) to cover this amount. If you do not have health insurance, talk with the social worker at your dialysis clinic. They can help you understand your insurance options, understand costs you may have to pay for dialysis without insurance and apply for health insurance What is Medicare? Medicare is a government health insurance program for people who are age 65 and older or have: • • Disabilities To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and have worked or are the spouse or dependent of someone who has worked 40 quarters (10 years) and paid the required amount in Social Security and Medicare taxes through employment. Parts of Medicare The table below shows the parts of Medicare. Each part helps pay for different health services Traditional Medicare Traditional Medicare Part Part A: Hospital insurance Part B: Medical insurance Part D: Prescription drug coverage What it covers Helps pays for: • Inpatient care in a hospital • Care in a nursing home • Lab tests • Some hospice care • Some home health care Helps pay for most of the other services and supplies that Part A does not cover, such as: • Doctors' visits • Dialysis...

Your What’s Dialysis? It’s a treatment that takes over your Hemodialysis : Your blood is put through a filter outside your body, cleaned, and then returned to you. This is done either at a dialysis facility or at home. Peritoneal dialysis: Your blood is cleaned inside your body. A special fluid is put into your Who Needs Dialysis? If your kidney disease becomes very severe and crosses a point where there’s not enough function to maintain the body, then you need either a transplant or dialysis. You typically start dialysis when you have symptoms or your lab tests show toxic levels of waste in your blood. Symptoms of kidney failure include When you should start dialysis depends on your age, energy level, overall health, lab test results and how willing you are to commit to a treatment plan. Although it can make you feel better and live longer, it involves a lot of your time. Your doctor will let you know when you should start treatment. They’ll also explain which type might work best for you. How Does Hemodialysis Work? First, you’ll need minor surgery to create direct access to your bloodstream. This can be done in a few ways: Fistula (also known as arteriovenous fistula or A-V fistula): An Graft (arteriovenous graft or A-V graft): A plastic tube is used to join an artery and vein under your The risk of infection is greater with a graft. You’ll also have to see your doctor more often so they can make sure the graft stays open. Catheter (central venous catheter): This method...

If your kidneys cannot keep your blood filtered and purified, dialysis performs the function of your kidneys using a machine. The kidneys filter your blood by removing waste and excess fluid from your body. This waste is sent to the bladder to be eliminated when you urinate. When your Learn more about dialysis, including the different types and possible risks. Types of dialysis can include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). What is hemodialysis? Before hemodialysis A doctor performs minor surgery to create an entry point into your blood vessels. This is done in advance, as it may take The three types of entrance points include: • Arteriovenous (AV) fistula • AV graft • Vascular access catheter Both the AV fistula and AV graft are designed for long-term dialysis treatments. Catheters are designed for short-term or temporary use. During hemodialysis During treatment, your blood is removed from the body and filtered through the hemodialyzer. The filtered blood is then returned to the body with the help of a dialysis machine. Hemodialysis treatments last about At first, most hemodialysis treatments are performed at a hospital, doctor’s office, or dialysis center. The length of treatment depends on your body size, the amount of waste in your body, and your current health. After hemodialysis After you’ve been on hemodialysis for an extended period, you may be ready to give yourself dialysis treatments at home. This option is commo...

Dialysis, also called "renal replacement therapy," is a medical procedure for people whose kidneys are working very poorly or not at all. Our kidneys are essentially the filters of our body, removing waste from our blood and turning it into urine. Although dialysis can’t perfectly do everything that normal kidneys can, some people can live for decades while on dialysis. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is separated into in-center hemodialysis, which occurs at a dialysis center, and home hemodialysis, which you can do at home. Peritoneal dialysis always occurs at home. Hemodialysis requires a machine known as an artificial kidney machine in order to filter your blood, whereas peritoneal dialysis uses an area in your abdomen to filter blood. Which type you use depends on your individual health requirements and restrictions. The kidney normally works hard to regulate particles like potassium, adjusting the amount released into the urine as needed, as not having the right amount can lead to health problems. Dialysis removes excess fluid from the body and some of these particles, as well as other waste products that would normally go out through your urine. Blood from a vessel—usually from your forearm—travels through the dialysis device. Inside the device, it flows through a series of small tubes. The tubes are surrounded by a type of fluid, called dialysis fluid, which doesn’t have many particles inside it. These tubes are ma...