Dialysis

Dialysis machine

Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. It often involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned.

This is unpublished

Who needs Dialysis?

While on your nephrology rotation, you will see many consults for in-patient dialysis. You will also see the term RRT for “renal replacement therapy.” This is broadly divided into two categories:

  1. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on chronic dialysis who are admitted to the hospital and require nephrology management for their ongoing chronic dialysis needs while hospitalized
  2. Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who require initiation of dialysis acutely while hospitalized.

What the non-nephrologist needs to know about dialysis

by Matt Foy, C.John Sperati

The care of hospitalized ESKD patients requires attention to many aspects of their health. As a medical student, it will be helpful to have a general sense of outpatient dialysis care.

The following review provides a background of dialysis for the non-nephrologist. You do not need to remember all of the details, but it should help you think through the care of these patients.

 


OnePager guides to critical care topics

by Nick Mark, MD

You will see many patients acutely started on dialysis in the hospital for acute kidney injury.

The following provides an overview of indications for acute dialysis and the various dialysis “lingo” and modalities.

 


Now that you have reviewed the above information, you may work through this case about initiating acute dialysis.

NephSim - Case 42

A 55-year-old man with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is brought to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance for shortness of breath and altered mental status.

 


Dialysis for the Internist 

Topics covering chronic dialysis management

with Joel Topf, MD

If you are further interested in chronic dialysis management, please listen to this podcast.

Dialysis for the internist

 


Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy 

with Amol Patel, MD

To learn more about continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), please complete the following lesson.