Alternatives to Kidney Dialysis

Once a patient reaches End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), there are only a few treatment options. Among these are dialysis, a kidney transplant, and no treatment. In most cases, the primary alternative to dialysis for people suffering from renal failure is transplantation.

Facts

• According to the United States Renal Data System, over 350,000 patients in the United States received dialysis as of 2006. In addition, over 2,600 patients received a kidney transplant as their first treatment choice.

Transplantation

• Kidney transplants can be provided by both live and cadaver donors; however, there are far more people needing transplants than there are kidneys available. As a result, many ESRD patients begin kidney dialysis while they wait for a kidney transplant.

Dialysis

• Although a first choice may be a transplant, the patient may also need to begin dialysis to sustain their health until receiving the transplant. The wait for a kidney could take months, or even years, therefore the patient needs to have dialysis temporarily in the interim.

No Treatment

• The second alternative to dialysis is the choice not to take treatment at all. Ultimately this means that the patient will die as a result of kidney failure. The process could take days or weeks, depending on the residual kidney function.

Considerations

• The choice between transplantation and no treatment is one that requires significant consideration of the pros and cons. Factors such as the patient's age, overall health, and potential quality of life come into play when making renal treatment decisions.