2.7 - Kidney Failure

nooo kidney ur not a failure....noooo

How many people in the UK are being treated for kidney failure?

over 70,000

What is kidney failure?

when your kidneys can no longer filter waste and excess fluid out of the body

What does kidney failure result in?

• a build up of urea in the blood

• water and ion balance of the blood not being maintained

What can a build up of urea in the blood lead to?

cells being poisoned

What can the water and ion balance of the blood not being maintained lead to?

osmosis imbalances damaging cells and the increase in blood pressure, leading to heart problems and strokes

What causes kidney failure?

infection, diabetes, high blood pressure, injury or genetics

What is dialysis?

a machine that artifically carries out the function of the kidney by filtering the blood and removing waste products

How does dialysis work?

• blood leaves the body via an artery

• a partially permeable membrane seperates the blood from the dialysis fluid

• dialysis fluid contains the same concentration of useful substances as the bood

• only diffusion occurs with no active transport

Why does dialysis fluid contain the same concentration of useful substances as the blood?

• so urea and excess minerals will diffuse out of the blood

• glucose remains in the blood

What are the advantages of dialysis?

• readily available

• person can lead a relatively normal life

What are the disadvantages of dialysis

• short term treatment

• long term expense

• long and regular sessions are needed

• risk of infection from frequent needle use

• needes could damage blood vessels

• need to carefully monitor diet

• risk of blood clots

How long does dialysis take?

4 hours

How often are dialysis sessions needed?

several times a week

Why do you need to carefully monitor diet when undergoing dialysis?

substances can build up in the blood between sessions causing damage to the body

What types of diet do you have to monitor when you’re undergoing dialysis?

protein, salt and fluid intake

What is a kidney transplant?

single, healthy kidney repaces failed ones

Can you live with just one kidney?

yes

What happens to blood vessels in kidney transplants?

blood vessels are joined together

What happens to old kidneys during kidney transplants?

old kidneys are left in unless they are likely to cause infection or are cancerous

What are the advantages of kidney transplants?

• its a long term solution

• transplanted kidney will work all the time so concentration of substnaces in the blood is kept constant

• don’t need to control your diet

• allows for a more flexible lifestyle

What are the disadvantages of transplants?

• lack of donors

• risk of rejections

• risk of infection from surgery

• transplanted kidney won’t last forever

Why is there a lack of kidney donors?

tissue matching is needed