- "Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is therapy that replaces the normal blood-filtering function of the kidneys."
This topic covers the various therapies for replacing renal function, including dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Kidney: The structure and function of the kidney, including how it filters blood, regulates electrolytes and fluid balance, and produces hormones.
Chronic Kidney Disease: The progression of kidney disease and how it can lead to end-stage renal disease, which requires renal replacement therapy.
Hemodialysis: A method of renal replacement therapy that involves removing blood from the body, filtering it through a machine, and then returning it to the body.
Peritoneal Dialysis: A method of renal replacement therapy that involves using the lining of the abdominal cavity to filter blood.
Transplantation: A method of renal replacement therapy that involves replacing a diseased kidney with a healthy one from a donor.
Dialysis Access: The placement of a vascular access point or surgical connection that allows for the hemodialysis procedure.
Complications of Renal Replacement Therapy: The potential risks and side effects associated with each type of renal replacement therapy, from infections to electrolyte imbalances, low blood pressure, and more.
Nutrition for Renal Replacement Therapy: A healthy diet that helps to maintain electrolyte and fluid balance, supports the dialysis process, and improves outcomes for patients.
Medications for Renal Replacement Therapy: Medications that are commonly used to control hypertension, prevent infections, and manage other health conditions associated with renal replacement therapy.
Patient Care and Management: The nursing care and therapies that are required to support the patient and manage the ongoing needs of those undergoing renal replacement therapy.
Hemodialysis: A type of renal replacement therapy where blood is purified by passing it through an artificial kidney machine. The blood is withdrawn from the patient's body through a catheter or a fistula, passed through a dialyzer, and then returned to the patient's bloodstream.
Peritoneal dialysis: A type of renal replacement therapy where a special solution is injected into the patient's abdominal cavity through a catheter. The patient's peritoneum acts as a filter, filtering out waste products from the body.
Hemofiltration: A type of renal replacement therapy that works by filtering excess fluids and toxins from the blood. In hemofiltration, blood is passed through a filter that removes impurities and excess fluids, which are then released from the patient's body.
Hemodiafiltration: A combination of hemodialysis and hemofiltration. In hemodiafiltration, blood is passed through a dialyzer that removes impurities and excess fluids, and then the filtrate is subjected to an ultrafiltration process to remove additional impurities.
Plasmapheresis: A type of renal replacement therapy that removes harmful antibodies from the blood. Blood is withdrawn from the patient's body, passed through a machine that separates plasma from the blood cells, and then the plasma is replaced with a replacement fluid or albumin.
Isolated Ultrafiltration: A type of renal replacement therapy that is used to manage fluid overload in patients with acute kidney injury. In isolated ultrafiltration, a small amount of blood is withdrawn from the patient's body and passed through a filter to remove excess fluids, which are then released from the patient's body.
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): A type of renal replacement therapy used in critically ill patients in the ICU setting. CRRT is performed continuously over 24 hours, providing a slower and gentler type of dialysis compared to hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
Kidney transplant: A surgical procedure where a healthy kidney is transplanted from a donor, either living or deceased, into the patient's body to replace the failed kidney. Kidney transplantation is considered the most effective form of renal replacement therapy, but it can also have significant risks and complications.
- "It is used when the kidneys are not working well, which is called kidney failure and includes acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease."
- "Renal replacement therapy includes dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), hemofiltration, and hemodiafiltration."
- "Renal replacement therapy also includes kidney transplantation, which is the ultimate form of replacement in that the old kidney is replaced by a donor kidney."
- "These treatments are not truly cures for kidney disease."
- "In the context of chronic kidney disease, they are more accurately viewed as life-extending treatments."
- "If chronic kidney disease is managed well with dialysis and a compatible graft is found early and is successfully transplanted, the clinical course can be quite favorable, with life expectancy of many years."
- "In certain acute illnesses or trauma resulting in acute kidney injury, a person could very well survive for many years, with relatively good kidney function, before needing intervention again, as long as they had good response to dialysis, they got a kidney transplant fairly quickly if needed, their body did not reject the transplanted kidney, and they had no other significant health problems."
- "Early dialysis (and, if indicated, early renal transplant) in acute kidney failure usually brings more favorable outcomes."
- "Renal replacement therapy includes dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis)."
- "Renal replacement therapy includes hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration, which are various ways of filtration of blood with or without machines."
- "Renal replacement therapy is therapy that replaces the normal blood-filtering function of the kidneys."
- "In the context of chronic kidney disease, they are more accurately viewed as life-extending treatments, although if chronic kidney disease is managed well with dialysis and a compatible graft is found early and is successfully transplanted, the clinical course can be quite favorable, with life expectancy of many years."
- "As long as they had good response to dialysis, they got a kidney transplant fairly quickly if needed, their body did not reject the transplanted kidney, and they had no other significant health problems."
- "In certain acute illnesses or trauma resulting in acute kidney injury, a person could very well survive for many years, with relatively good kidney function, before needing intervention again, as long as they had good response to dialysis, they got a kidney transplant fairly quickly if needed, their body did not reject the transplanted kidney, and they had no other significant health problems."
- "These treatments are not truly cures for kidney disease."
- "Renal replacement therapy also includes kidney transplantation."
- "In the context of chronic kidney disease, they are more accurately viewed as life-extending treatments."
- "If chronic kidney disease is managed well with dialysis and a compatible graft is found early and is successfully transplanted, the clinical course can be quite favorable, with life expectancy of many years."
- "Early dialysis (and, if indicated, early renal transplant) in acute kidney failure usually brings more favorable outcomes."