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How does Dialysis act as a bridge to a Kidney Transplant?
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Home >> Blogs >> How does Dialysis act as a bridge to a Kidney Transplant?

How does Dialysis act as a bridge to a Kidney Transplant?


Although dealing with kidney illness can be difficult, medical discoveries have led to innovative treatments that have improved patients' quality of life. One such therapy that serves as a stopgap before kidney transplantation is dialysis, which gives patients hope as they wait for a compatible donor. In this blog, we will look at how dialysis helps people with renal failure and how important it is as a first step towards a kidney transplant with the help of experts in kidney transplant in Gurugram.

Understanding Kidney Failure
It's critical to understand kidney failure in order to appreciate the relevance of dialysis as a bridge before a kidney transplant. The kidneys are essential organs that filter waste materials and extra fluid from blood. When kidneys malfunction, waste accumulates in the body, creating problems and if unresolved it can be fatal. Kidney failure can be caused  by a number of factors, such as chronic illnesses, hereditary diseases, or recent injuries.

Function of Dialysis
Dialysis is a medical therapy that replaces the kidneys' natural filtration function when they are not functioning properly or have failed altogether. It helps the body rid itself of waste, salt, and extra fluid, preventing its accumulation. For those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or  awaiting a kidney transplant, dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment.

Dialysis Methods
Hemodialysis: In hemodialysis, a patient's blood is pushed through a dialyzer, a type of filter, on a dialysis machine. The dialyzer purges wastes and extra fluid from the blood, serving as an artificial kidney. The patient's body is then given back the cleaned blood. 

Peritoneal Dialysis: In peritoneal dialysis, a thin membrane bordering the abdominal cavity is used by the patient as a natural filter. Through a catheter, a sterile dialysis solution is inserted into the abdomen. The remedy draws waste materials and extra fluid from the peritoneal blood vessels. The waste is removed from the solution after a few hours when it is drained. Peritoneal dialysis can be carried out at home, giving patients more freedom and flexibility.

A Pathway to Kidney Transplantation
Although dialysis offers patients short-term comfort and aids in maintaining a respectable quality of life, kidney transplantation is frequently regarded as the best long-term treatment for ESRD. The majority of patients must wait because there aren't many suitable organs available. Dialysis serves as a bridge during this time, providing crucial assistance and enabling patients to stay healthy until a transplant is practical.

Benefits of Dialysis

  • Managing Blood Pressure: One of the most frequent side effects of renal failure is high blood pressure. Dialysis aids in the removal of extra fluid from the body, which normalises blood volume and lessens the burden on the cardiovascular system.
  • Electrolyte Balance: The kidneys control the body's electrolyte balance, which includes amounts of sodium, potassium, and calcium. Maintaining normal level of these electrolytes with dialysis helps to avoid imbalances that can cause weakness and abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Fluid Control: Kidney failure frequently results in fluid retention, which causes breathlessness and increased heart stress. Dialysis relieves these signs and symptoms by removing extra fluid encouraging improved circulation.
  • Management of anaemia: The kidneys contribute to the synthesis of the hormone erythropoietin, which promotes the creation of red blood cells. Erythropoietin levels drop in renal failure, which causes anaemia. Injections of erythropoietin or additional drugs may be necessary for dialysis patients to treat anaemia and keep their haemoglobin levels at a healthy range.
  • Support for Nutrition: Kidney disease can impair the body's capacity to process and excrete specific nutrients. Patients on dialysis might need to adhere to a certain diet to make sure they get enough nutrients while minimising the build-up of waste materials.


Conclusion
Dialysis gives kidney failure patients a chance to maintain their health and well-being while they wait for a suitable organ donor which acts as a crucial step before a kidney transplant. It is essential for controlling kidney failure-related problems, increasing transplant eligibility, better quality of life while they wait for a transplant, which is the ultimate goal. More people are getting the gift of life through kidney transplantation as a result of continual improvements in medical technology and growing public awareness of organ donation. To know more about the advanced treatment, contact the kidney specialist in Gurugram.

Dr. Sumit Sharma, Director and Head of the Department

Urology, Uro-Oncology, Andrology, Uro-Robotics

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