End stage renal disease (ESRD) is when the kidneys are failing and will never recover, functioning at no more than 10% capacity. It usually doesn’t come on quickly, and patients may live for years with compromised kidneys. Treatment options include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation. Some choose not to treat ESRD due to quality of life issues or age.
The kidneys are vital organs that serve the body by removing waste and toxins, helping to keep blood pressure stable, and creating new red blood cells. End stage renal disease (ESRD) means that the kidneys are failing and will never recover, and can be more accurately defined as the kidneys functioning at no more than 10% capacity. This condition usually doesn’t come on quickly, and many people live for years with compromised but still functioning kidneys. Eventually, though, they may transition to ESRD. Without treatment, this condition is fatal, but fortunately, there is a treatment that can help prolong the lives of many.
As mentioned, it is not that common for end-stage renal disease to come on suddenly. That doesn’t mean it can’t. Fatal reactions to drugs or poisons or certain injuries can result in total kidney failure. Other causes of sudden ESRD include birth defects. Yet most people can spend time in kidney failure for years in the first place, often due to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or lupus. Sometimes chronic kidney disease gets better and other times it progresses to the end stage. Doctors will watch him closely.
Patients with chronic renal failure may be told to look for additional symptoms of end-stage renal disease. These could include no or little urination, blood in the stool, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. It is possible to go from feeling tired to being utterly exhausted or confused and falling into a coma. Others may experience flu-like symptoms, have muscle cramps or notice that they bruise very easily. Without treatment, the body would shut down completely and fatality would result.
There are certainly treatment options for most people with ESRD. They can choose to have two types of dialysis, called hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Alternatively, kidney transplantation may be an option.
Hemodialysis can take place in a medical facility or sometimes at home. It removes blood from the body, usually from a tube connected to the arm, and filters it of waste before returning it to the body via another tube. Hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease should be done several times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis uses a catheter that is permanently placed in the abdomen, which is connected to a bag or interval filtration machine. The body receives a fluid called dialysate, which helps clean the blood, and this is removed with a bag or machine. The different types of peritoneal dialysis can be discussed with a doctor.
Finally, kidney transplantation may be an option for many people, but they must have a compatible donor. Family members in excellent health may be able to donate a kidney, since only one can be lived with. However, if the cause of end-stage renal disease is an inherited condition, younger family members risk their own ultimate health if they donate, which deserves consideration. Kidney transplant methods continue to improve and can add years to life.
There are some who choose not to treat ESRD. If there are many quality of life problems, or if a person is elderly, they may not want to have the condition treated and may have a living will stating this fact. However, for many others, it should be encouraging to know that failure of these vital organs can now be addressed in a number of ways.
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