Dialysis PowerPoint Presentation by Ibrahim Alhassan

Renal Replacement Therapies

• The use of renal replacement therapies becomes necessary when the kidneys can no longer
• Remove wastes
• Maintain electrolytes and regulate fluid balance.
• This can occur rapidly or over a long period of time and the need for replacement therapy can be acute (short term) or chronic (long term).
• The main renal replacement therapies include the various types of dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Dialysis

• When a patient is in late stage chronic kidney disease (stage 4) or facing kidney failure (stage 5, end stage renal disease) he/she is referred to a dialysis and transplantation centre for kidney replacement therapy.
• It is usually initiated when the patient cannot maintain a reasonable lifestyle with conservative treatment.
• Types of dialysis include hemodialysis, CRRT, and Peritoneal dialysis.
• Acute dialysis is indicated when there is a high and increasing level of serum potassium, fluid overload, or impending pulmonary edema, increasing acidosis, pericarditis, and severe confusion. 
• It may also be used to remove medications or toxins (poisoning or medication overdose) from the blood.
• Chronic or maintenance dialysis is indicated in advanced CKD and ESRD in the following instances: the presence of uremic signs and symptoms affecting all body systems, hyperkalemia, fluid overload not responsive to diuretics.
• The decision to initiate dialysis should be reached only after thoughtful discussion among the patient, family, physician, and others as appropriate.