Definition of kidney failure

     A condition in which the kidneys stop working and are not able to remove waste and extra water from the blood or keep body chemicals in balance. 

   Why is the Kidney failure

     Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to adequately remove waste from your blood and control the level of fluid in your body. Kidney failure can happen suddenly or gradually. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

        If you have kidney disease, it does not mean that you will develop kidney failure. One in ten Australians aged 18 and over (approximately 1.7 million people) has at least one sign of chronic kidney disease, and over 26,000 Australians receive dialysis or a kidney transplant for kidney failure.

    You can lose up to 90 percent of your kidney function before experiencing symptoms. In many cases, the signs of disease often aren’t noticed until the kidneys are close to failure.

  Symptoms of kidney failure

   This is unfortunate because early detection of kidney disease and treatment is the key to preventing kidney failure.

    Tiredness

   Loss of appetite

    Difficulty sleeping

    Headaches

      Shortness of breath

       Itching

    high blood pressure

   Pain in kidney area

           These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but if you are in a high-risk group for kidney disease, speak with your doctor.

   Treatment for kidney failure

     There are three treatment pathways for people approaching kidney failure:

     Dialysis

    Transplantation

     Comprehensive conservative care

    Dialysis

   There are two types of dialysis

        Hemodialysis

                Peritoneal dialysis

    Home or dialysis center

     Hemodialysis (HD) can be done by you at home. If you need access to special medical care or are unable to do HD at home, you will need to have your HD at a dialysis center. Dialysis centers are sometimes located in a hospital or in the community

        During HD, your blood travels through a special filter called a 'dialyses' before being returned cleaned to your body. 

     Peritoneal dialysis

      Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is done at home by yourself, or a family member can be trained to help you. Your health care team will organize training to show you how to manage at home. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis: the daytime bags Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPO) and the nighttime cycles Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APO).

         Peritoneal dialysis uses your peritoneal membrane, a thin membrane or skin which surrounds and protects your organs in your abdomen (stomach) as a filter. During peritoneal dialysis, your membrane is used to filter waste products and extra fluid from your blood. A special catheter (tube) is used to move a special dialysis fluid called dialyzate in and out of your peritoneal cavity all the time, so your blood is continually being cleaned.

     Kidney transplantation

     A kidney transplant involves the transplantation of one kidney from either a living or deceased donor into the body of another person (recipient).

     A kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney disease, but it is not a cure. A transplant offers a more active life, without needing dialysis.

     A kidney transplant requires ongoing care. You will need to take medications to stop your body rejecting the kidney (anti-rejection) for as long as you have the transplanted kidney. If a kidney transplant stops working, dialysis treatment will be necessary again. Another transplant may also be possible.

       Comprehensive conservative care

     Comprehensive conservative care is the treatment pathway you will be offered if you have decided that dialysis or transplantation are not right for you. People choose comprehensive conservative care for many reasons, and these include having other health issues, preferring an option that focuses on quality of life rather than extending life, or having tried dialysis choosing to stop this treatment.

   With comprehensive conservative care, you will still be monitored and supported by health professionals. You may have medications and a special diet to improve your quality of life. Comprehensive conservative care will not extend your life when your kidneys fail completely.

 (CDK)

     Often, the development of kidney disease is gradual, and kidney function worsens over a number of years. If you permanently lose more than 40 percent of your kidney function, it is called ‘chronic kidney disease’ (CKD). This can lead to kidney fie

        The risk of CKD resulting in kidney failure depends on your level of kidney damage. If kidney disease is found early, medication, combined with diet and lifestyle changes, can prolong the life of your kidneys.

     If you have one or more of the risk factors for developing CKD, it is important to ask your doctor to perform a kidney health check which will include a blood test, urine test and blood pressure check.

    Acute Kidney failure

    Acute kidney failure is often short-lived, and many people with acute kidney failure need dialysis while they are waiting for their kidneys to recover. Sometimes, treatment is a matter of controlling blood pressure and blood chemistry, while waiting for kidney function to return.