Reduced Kidney Function Treatment

Your kidneys are delicate, bean-like organs located near the small of your back. As a part of your urinary system, the kidneys are essential to removing the waste and excess water from your blood. Kidney disease is often called "the silent killer" because the symptoms generally go undetected until they have developed into a serious problem. Damage done to the kidneys is irreversible and once your kidney loses some of their functioning abilities, it requires dialysis or replacement.

Kidney Function

• Your kidneys are a pair of reddish, bean-shaped organs located behind the abdomen, straddling the spleen. As a part of the urinary system, the kidneys' main function is to filter waste products and excess water from the blood stream. The excess water and waste mix to form urine, which is sent to the bladder for storage until it can be released from the body. Kidneys also release hormones that help regulate blood pressure, promote strong bones and aid in the production of red blood cells.

Reduced Kidney Function

• Kidneys lose some functioning abilities or completely fail for a number of reasons. Kidneys are delicate organs and do not have the ability to repair themselves after damage. They also are adversely affected by a number of medical conditions, including diabetes and liver disease.

  When your kidneys do fail, waste builds up in your body. You also run the risk of losing Vitamin D and phosphorus, which in turn causes your bones to become weak and bendable. You may also not be able to make enough red blood cells if your kidneys start malfunctioning. Red blood cells carry oxygen through your blood to the organs in the body. If there are not enough of them, your body does not get enough oxygen to function.

Hemodialysis

• Hemodialysis is the process of using a machine to filter your blood. The blood is pumped out of your body, cleaned and then pumped back into your blood's circulation. It is a temporary treatment, designed to replace part of the function of your kidneys. In addition to hemodialysis, you will also need to change your diet and take a number of prescription medications. Your physician will design a comprehensive dialysis plan based on your own kidney function and symptoms.

  How often you will need to undergo hemodialysis depends on the severity of your kidney function loss. Most hemodialysis is done in a hospital or clinic setting at regular intervals, usually weekly. For those who have severe kidney function loss and the money to purchase a hemodialysis machine, the treatment may be done at home. However, you must have someone who can help you with the treatment, space for storing the machine and supplies and be willing to be trained.

Peritoneal Dialysis

• Peritoneal dialysis filters your blood through the peritoneal membrane, the lining of your abdomen. Using a catheter inserted into your abdomen, a dialysis solution of minerals and sugar is pumped into your peritoneal membrane. The sugar in the dialysis solution draws waste from the blood vessels in the membrane. A few hours later, the dialysis solution, full of the wastes, is drained from the abdomen. The process is repeated several times throughout the day, drawing waste from your blood. Like hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is only a temporary measure.

  There are three types of peritoneal dialysis. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) can be done in any clean, well-lit place without the use of a machine. You can do it yourself, using a plastic bag attached to your catheter to add the dialysis solution and remove it about four times a day. Continuous cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) inserts and removes the dialysis solution up to five times a night while you sleep with a machine called a "cycler." The third option is a combination of CAPD and CCPD. This requires you do a few cycles during the day and have the cycler work during the night. This particular type of peritoneal dialysis is recommended if you weigh weigh more than 175 pounds or if your peritoneum filters waste so slowly that it takes too long to complete a cycle.

Kidney Transplant

• Although it may seem counterintuitive, the medical community considers kidney transplants as a treatment for reduced kidney function. Dialysis is only a temporary treatment for minor reductions in kidney function. Many patients who experience reduced kidney function in both kidneys will eventually require a kidney transplant.

  Kidney transplants are not simple. You must first receive a healthy kidney from a donor that has the same or a compatible blood type. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), a histocompatibility complex related to your immune system, are a factor as well. If your kidney comes from a family member, you have a good chance of being a match. If the HLAs are not a match, your kidney transplant can still be performed in the other compatibility tests are positive. The cross-match test, mixing a sample of your blood and a sample of the donor's blood to see if there is a negative reaction, is usually performed last. If there is no reaction, the operation will most likely proceed.

  A kidney transplant is major surgery and carries the same risk that any other major surgery does. Also, waiting for a suitable donor can take a long time and there is still a chance that your body may reject the new kidney. On the other hand, those who undergo kidney transplants will no longer need dialysis and will have fewer dietary restrictions. They also have a higher chance of living longer, healthier lives.