ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Kidney failure

What is Kidney failure?

21:56 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a progressive condition that occurs when the kidneys stop filtering blood waste, causing the accumulation of harmful substances and elements to the body that generate an imbalance in blood chemistry. It is important to detect kidney failure early, because if treatment is not received, the disease progresses to the point of being life threatening, requiring a kidney transplant.

Signs and symptoms Kidney failure

In its initial stages, kidney failure does not usually show symptoms, but as it worsens, the most common are the following:

  • Chest pain or tightness.
  • Tiredness and weakness.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Cramps.
  • Temporary cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Disorientation.
  • Respiratory problems.
  • Change of urinary habits: lack or excess of urine. 
  • Fluid retention that causes swelling of the lower limbs. 

Potential risks:

  • Elevated blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Peripheral arterial disease and heart failure.
  • Kidney or liver ailments.
  • Extended stay in intensive care.
  • Recurring urinary problems.

Diagnosis and treatment Kidney failure

Once your medical history has been analyzed, your doctor will request blood and urine tests to measure kidney function, as well as imaging studies, such as MRI and computed tomography.

Depending on the progression of the disease and your health conditions, your doctor will determine the treatment to follow, which may include medication, nutritional supplements, and change of diet, among others. In more severe cases in which kidney function is seriously affected, regular dialysis or a kidney transplant will be necessary.

The Transplant Center, with more than ten years of service, has a multidisciplinary care model for different solid organ transplants within a highly professional, safe, and comfortable environment, in strict adherence to the highest standards in safety and patient care.

Organ and tissue transplants constitute the most important therapeutic advance in the last 50 years in the field of health sciences. Achieving this has involved practically every specialty of modern medicine.

Fuentes: 

  • kidneyfund.org
  • kidney.org
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • nephocare.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Varona VM, Figueredo OLE, Carrazana VT, et al. Comportamiento de la Insuficiencia Renal en el Consultorio Médico de Familia #27. Policlínico ‘René Vallejo Ortiz’. Bayamo. Abril – julio de 2019. Mul Med. 2020;24(5):982-993.
  • Jiménez GA, Naranjo HY. Cuidado del paciente con insuficiencia renal crónica. Rev Cuba Enf. 2020;36(1):1-3.
  • Pérez SIC, Alonso RC, Dalas GM. Sobre el estado de la función tiroidea en la enfermedad renal crónica. RCAN. 2020;30(1):159-173.
  • Díaz-Rosales JD, Salva CR, Rivera-Córdova AA. Necrosis de ciego como causa de abdomen agudo en una paciente con insuficiencia renal crónica. Cir Gen. 2020;42(3):228-231. doi:10.35366/99965.

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