Failure of the kidneys can be caused by a variety of severe and life threatening conditions, including everything from liver failure, infection and heart disease to blood disorders, traumatic injury and a host of seemingly unrelated diseases. Because fully functioning kidneys are essential to overall health, a process called dialysis is commonly administered when these important organs begin to fail.
Dialysis filters out and helps to remove salt, chemicals, excess water and other waste in the blood that would otherwise begin to build up within the body. When loss of kidney function reaches a certain point and they can no longer produce necessary hormones, hormones may be administered by a medical professional in predetermined doses with each treatment.
There are two primary life saving types of dialysis: peritoneal and hemodialysis. The peritoneal procedure involves the use of a sterile, mineral- and glucose-rich solution that is injected into the abdominal cavity via a tube. The membrane that lines this cavity serves as a filter that removes waste products from the body's invaluable but limited supply of blood.
With this method, the patient is free to stay at home and perform the process as needed without having to travel to a hospital or clinic. For many men and women suffering from kidney disease or failure, this convenience is essential as they are unable to find regular transportation.
Hemodialysis, however, typically be performed in a medical facility. This is primarily due to the fact that it necessitates the use of a highly advanced machine that acts as a sort of external kidney. Blood is extracted from the body and continuously replaced as it is filtered of waste and water, conveyed by a series of tubes and catheters. For some patients in special cases, the latter of these types of procedures may be performed at home. The rental of the machine can be prohibitively expensive and not all health insurance plans cover this cost.
When all other methods of treatment have been exhausted and the patient's condition continues to worsen, a transplant may be deemed necessary. The new organ may be donated by a family member, a spouse, a close friend or even a stranger who simply wants to help someone live longer. It may also come from a donor who has already died. There are factors to consider with both types of transplant options, so talk to your doctor and family about which is a better fit for your individual situation.