Kidney Transplant

COM/150

June 6, 2010

Axia College of University of Phoenix

Kidney disease has become more prevalent over the years, one in nine Americans has chronic kidney disease, resulting in the need for a kidney transplant. Kidney failure is caused by variety of factors resulting in damage of the nephrons, which are the most important functioning unit of the kidneys. Kidney failure can be broken down into three groups: acute, chronic, end-stage. Once kidney failure is irreversible, dialysis or transplantation is the only method of survival. To avoid a kidney transplant, one needs to be aware of the pre-disposing factors, signs and symptoms, available treatments, and proper diet.
The kidneys are twin organs about the
Kidney damage with normal GFR (when the GFR is 90 or greater). 2. Kidney damage with mild decrease in GFR (when the GFR is 89-60). 3. Moderate decrease in GFR (when the GFR is 59-30). 4. Severe reduction in GFR (when the GFR is 29-15). 5. Kidney failure (when the GFR is less than 15).
Dialysis helps to keep the body in proper working order by removing waste product from the blood by an external “man-made” filtering process. The two types of dialysis are: Peritoneal dialysis and Hemodialysis. The two major kinds of peritoneal dialysis are: “Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)” (National Kidney Foundation, 2010). The CAPD is the only type that does not require a machine, whereas the CCPD requires the cycler machine. Peritoneal dialysis allows the patient to be more independent in that the procedure can be done at home, work, or even in a hotel room. In performing peritoneal dialysis, the patient has to be careful to maintain sterility to prevent infections. Hemodialysis must always be done in a center, by professionals. If a patient has to travel outside the area in which dialysis is done, an alternate center has to be located a head of time so that the procedure can be performed (National Kidney Foundation, 2010). The procedure normally takes approximately four hours and is it usually done about three times per week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday).
When medication and dialysis are