The Complications of Kidney Failure and How Hemodialysis Works to Fix Them
Katie Sullivan
Professor Manny Rodriguez
CHE102-002
Parkland College
April 2, 2015
Kidney Dialysis
• Kidney failure is deadly disease if not treated immediately.
• When functioning normally, the kidneys clean the blood of waste and other fluids, but when they fail the kidneys can 't clean it. This is where kidney dialysis comes in.
• Kidney dialysis is the method that is used to clean the blood of waste and other fluids.
• Dialysis is often a last resort for people that are undergoing kidney failure.
Possible Complications of Kidney Failure
• Anemia and Erythropoietin (EPO)
– Erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys and is the hormone that regulates the production of red blood cells. The kidneys don’t make enough erythropoietin, so there are fewer blood cells, which can lead to anemia.
• Renal Osteodystrophy
– Since the kidneys can’t regulate the proper chemical levels in the blood during kidney failure, the bones don’t get enough calcium and other chemicals to keep them strong.
• Hyperkalemia
– When the kidneys fail, it runs the risk of high levels of potassium, which can influence many factors that are dangerous.
• Uremic Acidosis
– In kidney failure, toxic waste can build up in the blood, which normally the kidneys would absorb and then filter out if they were functioning normally.
Functions of the Kidneys and an Overview of Hemodialysis
• The kidneys are responsible for removing waste and
The kidneys filter fluid and waste products from the blood into the urine, but when the heart cannot pump adequately, the kidneys malfunction and cannot remove excess fluid from the blood. This is because when the heart is no longer pumping efficiently it becomes congested with blood, causing pressure to build up in the main vein connected to the kidneys and leading to even more congestion of blood, except this time in the kidneys as well. The kidneys also suffer from the reduced supply of oxygenated blood because of decreased pulmonary circulation. Both of these when combined together are the main factors as to why kidney filtration decreases due to left sided heart failure.
Every day the kidney’s filter on an average of about 120 to 150 quarts of blood that produces 1 to 2 quarts of urine that has extra fluid and waste. The importance of the kidney is to keep the blood stable so the body can function properly. The fluids that are removed from the body help prevent blood cells and large molecules (proteins) from passing. Once filtered it can pass through the tubule that sends minerals back into the blood stream to remove waste (niddk.nih.gov).
Kidney Failure patients always experience a series of urine changes like frequent urination at night, decreased urine output, bubbly urine, blood urine and urgent urine and so on. All these symptoms are related with urinary system. Well, how does kidney failure affect the urinary system on earth?
Both of our kidneys functions to filter and excrete waste products and toxins by regulating fluids, electrolytes, and acid based balance. If the Renal blood flow is altered then the glomerular filtration rate will be altered as well. A decrease in systemic pressure stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to constrict the renal artery and decreases filtration and secretion in the kidney. In addition, a tubular obstruction can lead to the reduction of Glomerular filtration rate. An elevated intracellular calcium level due to tubular damage may alter cellular level that increases tubuloglomerular feedback and diminishes GFR. This may be prerenal, intrarenal, or postrenal. The prerenal will result from any condition outside of the kidney that disables the blood to flow to the renal vasculature causing a decrease in perfusion in the glomerulus leading to oliguria. However, both of the kidneys can still return to its full normal function on this stage. Second of the three is intrarenal, where anything can cause a direct damage to both of the kidneys such as infections, toxins, reduce blood supply, hypertension, diabetes, and even glomerulonephritis. The most common intrarenal condition is Acute Tubular Necrosis, where the epithelial layer of the nephrons are damaged causing a change in the concentration of urine, waste filtration, and an imbalance in electrolytes and acid
Acute renal failure condition is diagnosed and retitled as acute kidney injury. The purpose of the change of terminology was to encompass the full spectrum of the clinical manifestations associated with the syndrome. This includes a range from a small decline in kidney function to a severe impairment. Furthermore, the acute condition is characterized by a rapid loss of kidney function. In addition, associated manifestation(s) may be displayed as a rise in serum creatinine or a reduction in urine output. As a result of increase of serum creatinine or decline in urine output may developed and aggress to the clinical manifestation azotemia.
In Kidney failure cases urea, creatine, uric acids and electrolytes move from the blood to the dialysate with the net effect of lowering their concentration in the blood. RBC s WBC s and plasma proteins are too large to diffuse through the pores of the membrane. Hemodialysis patient are exposed to 120 to 130 L of water during each dialysis treatment. Small molecular weight substances can pass from the dialysate in to patient’s blood. So the purity of water used for dialysis is monitored and controlled.
The pathophysiology of acute renal failure is still uncertain though it is thought to be
Calcium modifications are the results of to low or to high calcium levels. When calcium levels are to low compromises in bone integrity will occur. Adults 50 years of age and older are encouraged to increase calcium intake to help prevent osteoporosis. Patients with thyroid dysfunctions may experience low hormone levels causing low calcium secretion. Kidney disease, liver disease and pancreatitis also decrease the calcium level due to the effects of absorptions of vitamins and minerals in the body. Patients that have a calcium deficiency are encouraged to
Kidney failure is the result of kidney disease that has either not been treated, or failed to respond to treatment. Some kidney diseases are: Acute kidney failure (potentially reversible), Acute nephritic syndrome, Goodpasture syndrome, Atheroembolic renal disease, Glomerulonephritis, Polycystic kidney disease, and chronic kidney failure (end stage) (United States National Library, 2010). The usual treatment for kidney failure is medication and dialysis. Dialysis is used for end stage kidney failure, when the patient has lost
In the human body, there are systems that provide different functions and help the body to operate more efficiently. The urinary system is one in particular designed to help the body remain free of excess that we no longer need. “The urinary tract is the drainage system used for removing wastes and extra water. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. The kidneys are a pair of “bean-shaped” organs, each about the size of a fist. The kidneys are located below the ribs, one on each side of the spine, towards the middle of the back.” (NIDDK, 2013) Every several minutes, your kidneys filter around three ounces of blood, also then removing wastes and extra water. That extra water and
Mr. Armstrong has a history of renal insufficiency and uncontrolled hypertension, along with symptoms of fatigue, pedal edema, and occasional shortness of breath. He does not have a history of trauma or obstruction to his kidneys, but his creatinine and BUN levels are currently at 3.5 mg/dl and 40 mg/dl. Normal creatinine concentration values are 0.7 to 1.2 mg/dl and normal BUN values are 10 to 20 mg/dl; this reveals that Mr. Armstrong’s kidneys are not removing wastes properly (McCance, Huether, Brashers, & Rote, 2014). Mr. Armstrong’s history of renal insufficiency and uncontrolled hypertension is commonly found in patients diagnosed with intrarenal (intrinsic) acute renal failure. Intrarenal acute renal failure can be categorized as
The other will allow the blood that is returning to back into the body. Treatments will last anywhere from 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours. Your blood pressure will be check regularly. Your machine will be adjusted to ensure that correct amounts are being removed from your body. You are allowed to relax, read, watch television, do work, or even sleep. The other type of dialysis is called peritoneal dialysis. This requires more work from the patient. The patient must maintain a clean surface on the abdomen in order to help prevent infection. The patient will again weigh themselves to determine the amount of fluid. Then the patient will wear a mask while cleaning the catheter site. Fluid allowed to stay in the peritoneal cavity is drained back into a plastic bag. The patient will then remove the bag and connect a new one. Once the fluid is in the body, the new bag will be rolled up and placed on the patient’s underwear until time for the next treatment. This type of dialysis is more work, more intense, and is required much more. It is done four to five times a day at about 30 minutes each time. There is alternative machine to this called a cycler. It is used every night. Five to six bags are used and the machine will automatically change fluid while the patient is sleeping. Dialysis can make things easier on the patient however it depends on how much help your kidneys need as to which treatment you will need.
High blood pressure which is called hypertension is another common disease which can cause chronic renal failure. This
To understand what renal failure is, it is important to know how the kidneys work and what the main functions are. The body has two kidneys on either side of the spine and the kidneys work to remove toxic waste and excess water by producing urine. The kidneys also help with controlling blood pressure and produce erythropoietin as well as aiding in keeping bones strong by producing calcetrol hormones. When the kidneys are unable to perform these functions it causes the kidneys to fail.
research paper, is to provide a general overview of the causes of kidney failure, shedding light on it