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Kidney Disease Treatment

When the kidneys are functioning normally, they regulate the chemical composition of the blood particularly sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, and remove extra fluid to form urine (National/Chronic, 2005; National/Hemodialysis, 2005). They also remove drugs and toxins from the bloodstream and release hormones into the blood which regulate blood pressure, erythrocyte formation and promote bone strength. Chronic kidney disease impairs the ability of the kidneys to perform these functions so that waste products build up in the blood, making the patient feel unwell. As the kidneys deteriorate, the blood pressure may rise, anemia and weakening of the bones occurs, and there is nerve damage and poor nutritional health. Kidney disease also increases the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. When kidney disease progresses, it will eventually lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis.

Dialysis replaces some of the lost functions of the kidneys by removing the waste products from the blood and restoring fluid balance (National/Hemodialysis, 2005). Dialysis is usually required once only 10 to 15 percent of kidney function remains. Using a blood filter and a chemical solution known as the dialysate, the dialysis treatment removes waste products and excess fluids from the bloodstream, and maintains the proper chemical balance of the blood (Smith, 2005). In hemodialysis, a dialysis machine with a special filter is used to clean the blood.

To carry out hemodialysis, the patient needs an arteriovenous fistula, which is an artificial connection between an artery and a vein, which is implanted surgically (Sofocleous and Abu-Judeh, 2005). Keeping these fistulas operational long-term is a difficult problem in those who are not suitable for transplantation, or do not want a transplant, and have to remain on hemodialysis for the rest of their lives. The fistulas often have to be replaced several time over the lifetime, ...

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Kidney Disease Treatment. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 14:39, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1704725.html